The chief internal watchdog of the national intelligence director's office said Thursday he is examining whether the new chairman of the National Intelligence Council has compromising ties to the government of Saudi Arabia.
In a separate request Thursday, Republicans also asked for a review of Charles Freeman's relationships with China and Iran. Freeman has served on an international advisory board of the government-owned Chinese National Offshore Oil Co., according to a biography posted on Businessweek.com. The company signed a $16 billion agreement with Iran to develop one of its oil fields in 2007.
Twelve Republicans in the House of Representatives, including Minority Leader John Boehner and the second-ranking member, party whip Eric Cantor, asked on March 3 for a government investigation into whether Freeman, a former U.S. ambassador, has personal, financial or contractual links with the Saudi government.
National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair appointed Freeman chairman of the National Intelligence Council last week.
"Director Blair believes that the IG report will put to rest any questions about Ambassador Freeman's suitability, character and financial history," said spokeswoman Wendy Morigi. The IG is Blair's inspector general.
The Republicans claim the Saudi government endowed the Middle East Policy Council, which Freeman headed as president before he was chosen to head the council. The National Intelligence Council is responsible for shepherding and writing national intelligence estimates, which are the best government judgments on critical security issues from the nation's 16 intelligence agencies.
Freeman's Republican critics contend that the Saudi government's endowment of the Middle East Policy Council had the effect of financing Freeman's salary. Freeman earned $87,000 a year, according to the organization's latest filing with the Internal Revenue Service.
In a 2006 interview, Freeman said the Saudi government provided only enough money to allow the Middle East Policy Council time to shut down its main programs if it should run out of money and be forced to close. Jon Roth, the executive director of the Middle East Policy Council, refused to comment on its contributors. The organization's 2006 filing blacks out its contributors which together donated more than $2 million.
Freeman, who was U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf war, has provoked controversy on conservative Web blogs because of his role as president of the Middle East think tank. Freeman has been critical of the Israeli government, the Iraq war and the Bush administration's approach to fighting terror.
Freeman also served in the Clinton-era Pentagon, where he was credited with re-establishing defense and military relations with China. He later served in a senior position in the State Department managing African affairs. He was director for Chinese affairs at the State Department from 1979 to 1981.
Like all senior intelligence appointees, Freeman has 30 days to identify and resolve potential financial conflicts of interest, according to spokeswoman Morigi.
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