Democrats fear cover-up in probe of ouster at rally

Salazar, Udall, DeGette, lean on Secret Service

Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, June 10, 2005

Three congressional Democrats used the word "cover-up" Thursday in complaining about lack of results in the Secret Service investigation into the forced removal of three people from a presidential speech in March.

The Secret Service and the White House both know, but refuse to reveal, the identity of the man who looked and acted like a Secret Service agent, and ousted the three from the president's Denver appearance solely because of a "No more blood for oil" bumper sticker.

The Secret Service has said the man was not an agent. The White House says he was a White House volunteer.

Sen. Ken Salazar and Reps. Mark Udall and Diana DeGette, all of Colorado, months ago demanded and got the Secret Service to launch an investigation into possible charges of impersonation of an agent.

But nearly three months after the incident - and weeks after the agency interviewed witnesses in Denver - they have heard nothing in response.

"The lack of information from the Secret Service and the White House and their unresponsiveness toward this matter gives the appearance of either disinterest or a cover-up," the three wrote in a letter to Secret Service Director Ralph Basham.

The senator and representatives asked for a face-to-face update on the investigation next week.

The three who were ousted - Karen Bauer, Alex Young and Leslie Weise - were members of a Democratic political group. They had done nothing wrong when they were forced out before President Bush arrived.

The three Democrats said that because the event was a town meeting paid for by the taxpayers, it should be open to all citizens regardless of their political views.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan has defended the actions of the volunteer, saying, "If we think people are coming to the event to disrupt it, obviously, they're going to be asked to leave."