NYT: Ex-Senator Will Soon Leave 9/11 Panel

Max Cleland, a former senator from Georgia and one of five Democrats on the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is expected to resign within weeks, creating a vacancy with only six months left in the inquiry, commission officials said today.

Mr. Cleland's intention to resign from the 10-member commission has been known since last summer, when Senate Democrats announced that they had recommended him for a Democratic slot on the board of the Export-Import Bank. But the timing of his departure became clear only last week, when the White House formally sent the nomination to the Senate.

His imminent departure from the panel has created concern among victims' family groups, because Mr. Cleland has been one of the commission's most outspoken members and has joined with advocates for the families in their criticism of the Bush administration. The time to find a replacement is limited because the commission is required by law to complete its work in May.


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I believe this is the first verification of this.

As someone who supported and voted for Max Cleland, I'm flattened by this - I TRUSTED this man to put OUR interests above his own. I'm very, very upset and let down for me and everyone else in the Cleland camp, but even more, I feel anger towards Cleland's utter betrayal of the families and loved ones of those who died on 9/11.

he must stay on it. Send him e-mails and phone calls!!!

until May when they can publish a know nothing report that
does not damage the chimperor. If he knew last summer then
he may also have been laboring under the misconception that
enough information would have come forward that he could
wind up his work in time to take the position. He does need an income after all and I have read that his campaign for the Senate was
hard on him financially. This isn't the sudden offer that I originally thought was made to get him off the panel. Very interesting.

And when he wrote me that he couldn't support Senator Byrd's opposition of the IWR because he felt it the necessary vehicle to "protect the American people".

I'm in California now and he is no longer a Senator - and frankly after this move, I don't believe he cares what any of us think.

I don't know.

He sold out.

Especially with a floundering investigation already. He must have been bought off. I suppose Henry Kissinger will replace him. What a big cover up.

When he let General Myers sit in his office until after the Pentagon was hit, even though they knew about the first tower being hit when Myers went into their scheduled meeting. Something about this whole situation just stinks.

I emailed him and the rest of the coverup committee - er, I mean, 911 Commission - after the news broke of their bullshit "compromise" with the White House.

It appears my words, and the words of so many others like me, were simply not able to compete.

Cause this is newsworthy and I'm still pissed!

KICK

by leaving when the panel only has until May to finish the work.

What's really so vital, Max?

Until there is someone in power who gives a dam about other humans dying, it will never get off the ground.
Do we ever hear any real information?

Max was still getting air time for his complaints. Without a face and someone enough on the inside to be newsworthy, the issue just fades. I can't figure an upside to this.