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Navy Investigating Alleged bin Laden Killer Over Leaks

Robert O'Neill 'may have revealed classified information': NCIS
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 24, 2014 9:31 AM CST
Navy Investigating Alleged bin Laden Killer Over Leaks
Retired Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Exactly which Navy SEAL killed Osama bin Laden still isn't clear, but one who claims to have done it is now facing a criminal probe over leaks about the raid, the Daily Beast reports. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has received allegations that Robert O'Neill "may have revealed classified information to persons not authorized to receive such information," a spokesman says. "NCIS has initiated an investigation to determine the merit of the allegations." NCIS hasn't specified the nature of the information or its recipient, the Daily Beast notes, but O'Neill has spoken with a range of publications, including Esquire and Fox News, about the mission.

O'Neill holds that the information he has revealed isn't subject to non-disclosure agreements; he has told the AP that he has worked to avoid revealing information that could be damaging to SEAL tactics. Officials have been divided in their response. Some have criticized his actions; others have said that he and fellow SEAL Matt Bissonnette—who is also facing an investigation—have only talked about previously leaked material. "An investigation will need turn up credible evidence that disclosures were made—and on that front, at least so far, there’s no compelling evidence that occurred," the chief of staff for California Rep. Duncan Hunter tells the Daily Beast. (More Navy stories.)

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