Withers' version has been supported by at least four other U.S. officials. In addition, a criminal investigator working on the case credited embassy staff with providing "outstanding support" to the criminal inquiry, according to a Nov. 28, 2007, Defense Department e-mail that was reviewed by The Times.
"Far from covering this up, we were helpful to this investigation, and proud of it," said Withers, a 24-year Foreign Service veteran. Withers has been given permission by State Department officials to speak publicly providing he does so as an individual and not as a representative of the U.S. government or the State Department.
The developments have sharpened tensions between State Department officials and Waxman's committee, an aggressive panel that frequently embarrasses the Bush administration. Withers and his supporters say the panel moved too hastily in this case to publicize an erroneous allegation.
Withers' decision to speak out is likely to further inflame the tensions and represents a rare instance in which a career diplomat personally and publicly challenges a high-ranking lawmaker.
On Saturday, he wrote Waxman to ask for a meeting "to refute the unfounded aspersions that have been cast upon the reputations of an outstanding and dedicated cadre of public officials." He said Waxman's conclusions were "wrong in their entirety."
Diveroli has been the largest provider of munitions to the Afghan security forces, and the investigation that began last year led the U.S. military to reassess how it purchased arms for Afghan and Iraqi forces.
Investigators think AEY was buying the Chinese cartridges, having them repackaged by an Albanian subcontractor and shipped to Afghanistan. The ammunition was part of a mountain of aging and deteriorating munitions stockpiled in Albania.
The events that drew Waxman's attention to Withers occurred Nov. 19, when, U.S. officials say, the Pentagon's investigation was nearly complete. Differing accounts of what transpired that night are the source of the dispute over Withers' role.
Withers said he received messages that a panicked Fatmir Mediu, then Albania's defense minister, needed to see him.
Fearing the defense minister had news about terrorism or similarly grave problems, Withers agreed to meet him with other embassy officials. The meeting lasted from 11 p.m. until midnight.
