The White House will vet "line by line" the report of an independent commission investigating the September 11, 2001, attacks before it is publicly released, the commission chairman said on Sunday.
Chairman Thomas Kean, a former Republican governor of New Jersey, said on NBC television's "Meet the Press" that he was surprised to learn of the White House review, which he said was required under law to ensure any material that could compromise intelligence was not included.
"They go through it line by line," Kean said, referring to the White House review process involving intelligence issues. White House chief of Staff Andrew Card will oversee the vetting.
The commission is expected to submit its report in July on intelligence failures before the 2001 attacks. Kean said he was confident the White House would finish its review so the report could be released well before the November presidential election. Commission vice chairman Lee Hamilton vowed not to let the White House "distort" the report.