CIA suspends former director's security clearances

The Central Intelligence Agency last week announced it suspended the security clearances of a former CIA director.

John Deutch, who headed the CIA from May 1995 to December 1996, lost his clearances after agency technicians found that Deutch had composed classified documents on non-secure, CIA-issued computers outside the office. An investigation found no evidence that the classified documents and memoranda Deutch wrote on the non-secure computer fell into unauthorized hands.

The Justice Department declined to prosecute Deutch, but CIA Director George Tenet suspended Deutch's clearances because "the potential for damage to U.S. security existed as a result" of Deutch's actions, the CIA said in a statement.

In a statement released through the CIA, Deutch said he regretted his mistake.

"While it was absolutely necessary for me to work at home and while on travel, in hindsight it is clear that I should have insisted that I be provided the means of accomplishing this work in a manner fully consistent with all the security rules," Deutch said. "No one, including the director, is exempt from compliance with these rules, no matter how busy they are and no matter how arduous are the demands of the position."

Deutch worked in the government for 38 years and had worked as a consultant to the CIA since he stepped down as director.