Senator Patrick Leahy has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for more information about a deal to let a Persian Gulf company run operations at six major American ports.
Leahy has joined several other Democratic and Republican lawmakers who have raised security concerns about turning over major U.S. ports to a firm owned by the United Arab Emirates government.
Leahy and other lawmakers are calling for a thorough investigation of how the deal was reached between the Bush Administration and the company.
The deal is on indefinite hold, at the request of the company. It’s offered to delay the transfer, which the White House says would give it more time to convince lawmakers the deal poses no security risks.