Rep. Peter King, R-NY, participates in a flag stitching event for the National 9/11 flag to kick off the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July14, 2011. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg |
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Rep. Peter King said Wednesday he wants an investigation into whether the White House is providing filmmakers with secret information on the bin Laden raid.
King, R-N.Y., Wednesday released a letter to inspectors general for the CIA and Pentagon asking for an investigation and a classified briefing on whether the White House is providing Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow with top-level access on the May 2 raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, The Hill reported.
Bigelow and Sony Pictures Entertainment reportedly are working on a film about the killing of the most-wanted terrorist in history, set to hit screens in October 2012, the newspaper said.
King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, cited senior military officials who stressed the importance of keeping details of the raid secret, while also saying that if Hollywood filmmakers are granted access to such information, then Congress and the public should be given access as well.
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday King's claims are "ridiculous."
"When people … in this room are working on articles, books, documentaries or movies that involve the president, ask to speak to administration officials, we do our best to accommodate them to make sure the facts are correct. That is hardly a novel approach to the media," Carney said.
"We do not discuss classified information. And I would hope that as we face a continued threat from terrorism, the House Committee on Homeland Security would have more important topics to discuss than a movie."
