Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has been denied clearance to examine the White House’s plan for operating the government in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

The Oregonian reports that DeFazio requested to see the classified plans after being contacted by constituents who expressed concern that the plans contained a conspiracy.

De Fazio is puzzled by the White House’s denial of his request:

I just can’t believe they’re going to deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist attack.

De Fazio has never been denied access to classified documents before.

Trey Bohn, White House spokesman, says that it’s nobody’s business why DeFazio was denied access to the plans:

We do not comment through the press on the process that this access entails. It is important to keep in mind that much of the information related to the continuity of government is highly sensitive.

Norm Ornstein a conservative legal scholar at the American Enterprise think tank , says he can’t think of any reason why a member of Congress would be denied the right to review the plans.

Maybe the people who think there’s a conspiracy out there are right. – Congressman Peter DeFazio