[h=5]BY BOB HOLT[/h][h=6]NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM[/h]A letter from the U.S. Department of Defense to the former Navy SEAL who wrote the upcoming book about the Osama bin Laden raid states he is in violation of federal criminal law.
Retired SEAL Team Six member Matt Bissonnette wrote “No Easy Day,” which is set to be released on Tuesday.
A letter obtained by Reuters that was addressed to Bissonnette’s pseudonym, Mark Owen, in the book, mentioned two non-disclosure agreements Bissonnette signed with the Navy that made it illegal for him to reveal classified information.
The non-disclosure agreements remained in effect even after Bissonnette left the Navy, according to the letter. Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon's General Counsel, wrote that the Department of Defense is considering all legal remedies available to them.
Fox News, which first revealed that Owen’s real name was Matt Bissonnette, says the book has upset more than a few Navy SEALS.
One said, "How do we tell our guys to stay quiet when this guy won't?” Special Operations Command spokesman Col. Tim Nye said Bissonnette "put himself in danger" with his book. "He’s the one who started this so he bears the ultimate responsibility for this,” Nye said.
Several U.S. officials who have read “No Easy Day” said it does not appear to quote from clearly classified documents. But NBC News reports that officials reviewing the book are closely examining whether special operations tactics that may be useful to insurgents are divulged.
“We've got to get serious about leaks of classified information," a senior Pentagon official said, according to the International Business Times. "As unpalatable as it may seem to go after this Navy SEAL, if we do nothing, there is nothing to prevent others from doing the same."
Bissonnette, 36, has been awarded five bronze stars. According to Reuters, he said his book was written "with respect for my fellow service members, while adhering to my strict desire not to disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way."
Retired SEAL Team Six member Matt Bissonnette wrote “No Easy Day,” which is set to be released on Tuesday.
A letter obtained by Reuters that was addressed to Bissonnette’s pseudonym, Mark Owen, in the book, mentioned two non-disclosure agreements Bissonnette signed with the Navy that made it illegal for him to reveal classified information.
The non-disclosure agreements remained in effect even after Bissonnette left the Navy, according to the letter. Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon's General Counsel, wrote that the Department of Defense is considering all legal remedies available to them.
Fox News, which first revealed that Owen’s real name was Matt Bissonnette, says the book has upset more than a few Navy SEALS.
One said, "How do we tell our guys to stay quiet when this guy won't?” Special Operations Command spokesman Col. Tim Nye said Bissonnette "put himself in danger" with his book. "He’s the one who started this so he bears the ultimate responsibility for this,” Nye said.
Several U.S. officials who have read “No Easy Day” said it does not appear to quote from clearly classified documents. But NBC News reports that officials reviewing the book are closely examining whether special operations tactics that may be useful to insurgents are divulged.
“We've got to get serious about leaks of classified information," a senior Pentagon official said, according to the International Business Times. "As unpalatable as it may seem to go after this Navy SEAL, if we do nothing, there is nothing to prevent others from doing the same."
Bissonnette, 36, has been awarded five bronze stars. According to Reuters, he said his book was written "with respect for my fellow service members, while adhering to my strict desire not to disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way."