Robert O’Neill Back on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper”
The Lead Topic: Allegations and an NCIS Investigation.
Robert O’Neill recently made a second guest appearance on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” to discuss the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation into whether he might have “allegedly revealed classified information during interviews.”
Tapper points out that while allegations have been made, specifics on those allegations have not been made available. He clarifies that NCIS “initiated an investigation to determine the merit of the allegations.”
With that said, Tapper turns to O’Neill for his take. Highlights of their exchange include:
Tapper: “Do you think you did anything wrong here? Some of your critics say maybe this is why Navy SEALs aren’t supposed to come forward to talk publicly.”
O’Neill: “No, I don’t think I did anything wrong…. I talked about a few things. Navy SEALs do get in helicopters. Navy SEALs do go to houses full of terrorists, and we do capture and kill them. I talked about that and some of the emotion with myself and my teammates.”
Tapper: “Do you have any idea what specific classified information you’re alleged to have disclosed?”
O’Neill: “No, I first heard about the investigation…to merit a complaint of someone in the Navy. I haven’t been contacted by anybody, but if the call comes I’m willing to take it.”
Tapper: “The Obama Administration has sent people to prison over revealing classified information. Are you at all worried?”
O’Neill: “No, I’m not worried. It does concern me as it would probably concern anybody that someone is investigating potential wrongdoing, but I’m very confident that nothing classified was told. I think it’s a story that’s very important for closure, for 9/11 families. It’s also important for American history.”
Tapper: “A lot of your defenders are saying, the Obama Administration shared a lot of information about the OBL raid to be self-serving, most notably, perhaps, cooperating with the filmmakers of “Zero Dark Thirty.” Does that bother you considering this investigation?”
O’Neill: “That doesn’t bother me. It didn’t bother me the night that we found out some information had been leaked. There’s nothing wrong with letting the world know if they mess with us, we do have the capabilities to come get them. As far as the Obama Administration taking credit for it, they authorized the mission; they should take credit for their part of the mission as should everyone involved, all the way to the American people and the first responders at Ground Zero.”
Tapper: “Do you think that the purpose of the NCIS investigation and also the possible punishment for your fellow SEAL who wrote the book ‘No Easy Day’ under the pen name Mark Owen… Do you think this is to discourage other SEALs from coming forward and talking about their experiences?”
O’Neill: It could be something to discourage it. There have been two guys from the mission that spoke about the mission. I don’t want to be part of a place where we treat our heroes like villains, and then we’re treating our villains like victims.” Tapper: “Do you think you’re being treated at all like a villain or a victim?”
O’Neill: No, I don’t feel like either. I just would hate to see that happen. Right now, I think that people are doing due diligence to make sure everything was done the right way and I’m confident that it was.”
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