Editorial: Our lips are sealed, vice president vows

Wednesday, June 27, 2001 | 9:15 a.m.

Vice President Dick Cheney stubbornly refuses to divulge the names of people who met with his energy task force. But the General Accounting Office, Congress' investigative arm, is telling Cheney that legally he has to release the names. Two Democratic House members, who initiated the GAO's inquiry, believe that special access by Republican donors made an impact on the energy task force's final recommendations.

A judge ultimately may rule that the vice president can keep the names secret, but Cheney is losing the battle in the court of public opinion. If in fact the energy producers didn't have undue influence, he shouldn't have anything to worry about by releasing the information.

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