Not just that, but Bushies continued to praise AIPAC well after they knew the FBI was investigating whether AIPAC acted as a conduit to illegally pass classified material to Israel.
A senior administration official said national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and her deputy, Stephen Hadley, were "apprised of the counterintelligence investigation of AIPAC" more than two years ago.
The official said the investigation centered on whether AIPAC was acting as a "conduit" -- relaying information the group collected from the administration and the U.S. Congress to Israel, Washington's closest ally in the Middle East.
Since the White House National Security Council was informed of the case, Bush, Rice and other senior administration officials have praised AIPAC.
Addressing the group in May, Bush said AIPAC was "serving the cause of America," including its role in highlighting "the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons."
In a March 2003 speech, Rice called AIPAC "a great asset to our country."
AIPAC, which has denied any wrongdoing, pointed to those comments and others as "vindication of AIPAC's loyalty and trustworthiness."
"Apparently nothing turned up during this rigorous two-year probe of AIPAC's activities to deter President Bush from addressing AIPAC's policy conference on May 18, 2004. Nor has information surfaced that has prevented scores of other administration and congressional leaders from speaking regularly and candidly with AIPAC officials," the group said in a statement.
The White House declined to comment on whether knowledge of the counterintelligence probe affected contacts with AIPAC.
