WASHINGTON (AP) — A Homeland Security Department employee who disclosed days before the 2008 election that President Barack Obama’s aunt was in the U.S. illegally says he didn’t leak the information for political reasons.
The government has released a 20-page report from 2010 about its investigation into the leak of information to The Associated Press. It said the employee, whose name was not released, told internal investigators he confirmed Zeituni Onyango (zay-TOO’-nee ohn-YAHN’-goh)’s immigration status because, in his words, “regardless of political affiliation … I think the American public has a right to know.”
The investigation concluded that the employee improperly revealed Onyango’s immigration status, displayed a “lack of candor” with investigators and improperly used a government telephone to disclose information to the AP.
The Huffington Post first reported on the report Thursday.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
