Democrats attack Cheney for secrecy, vow probe

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) Vice President Dick Cheney came under fresh Democratic criticism for secrecy as a top lawmaker vowed to investigate his handling of classified national security documents.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also rejected Cheney's claim he was exempt from an executive order that sets government-wide procedures for safeguarding such information.

''There will be hearings held on this,'' Reid said on Capitol Hill yesterday. ''We have to hold up to the light what has been going on in this White House. ... The will of the Congress has been ignored, the will of the American people has been ignored.'' The flap is the latest between Congress and Cheney, whom Democrats have accused of excessive secrecy on matters from drafting energy policy to privately funded travel.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino brushed off the newest complaints, saying, ''The president and the vice president are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material and making sure that it is safeguarded.'' On Thursday, a Democratic-led congressional committee reported that since 2003, Cheney had exempted his office from an executive order renewed that year by President George W.

Bush regarding federal procedures for dealing with national security information.

Cheney not only rejected a request to adhere to the procedures but also sought to the eliminate the office at the National Archives that made the request, said Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who chairs the House of Representatives Government and Reform Committee.

The White House denied any attempt was made to close the National Archives and Record Administration's Information Security Oversight Office.

It also said Bush's order applied only to executive agencies. The National Archives security office says it believes Cheney's office qualifies as such an agency despite claims to the contrary by the vice president.

Under the Constitution, Cheney also serves as president of the Senate, part of the legislative branch of government.

Waxman said yesterday: ''The White House is giving us an absurdity for the ages. The vice president is pretending he isn't part of the executive branch and the White House is pretending that the rules for protecting classified information are being followed.'' Perino said, ''I think what is absurd is Chairman (Waxman) asserting some sort of authority over the president regarding an executive order of which he is the sole enforcer.'' REUTERS PDS BST0703