Tenet shakeup not likely to affect Gibbons’ post

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, June 4, 2004 | 10:15 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The shuffling expected to occur as a result of CIA Director George Tenet's resignation is not likely to result in Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., moving up to chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, at least not in this Congress, Gibbons' spokeswoman said this morning.

The current chairman of the committee, Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., is being talked about as a possible successor to Tenet.

Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said if Goss is nominated to replace Tenet, committee Vice Chairman Doug Bereuter, R-Neb., would most likely assume the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee for the remainder of the 108th Congress, which ends this year. Goss is planning to retire this year, so leaving to head the agency would just accelerate his departure from the House by a few months.

Bereuter also does not plan to return to the House next year. That still leaves another committee member, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., who has more seniority than Gibbons. But Boehlert is chairman of the House Science Committee and has said he has no intention of leaving that position. He would not be able to keep that chairmanship and become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

It's no secret that Gibbons wants the House Intelligence Committee chairmanship. But the Tenet resignation still leaves him looking more to the 109th Congress, which would start in January, Spanbauer said.

Gibbons strongly supports Goss to head the agency, Spanbauer said.

Gibbons also serves on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, as vice chairman of the House Resources Committee and as a member of the Armed Service Commmittee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.