Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe

ABC ^

[The G Man]

Update:

Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe

Attorney General John Ashcroft Will Recuse Himself From Probe Into Who Leaked Name of CIA Operative

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Dec. 30 ? Attorney General John Ashcroft will recuse himself from an investigation into who leaked the name of a CIA operative, Justice Department sources said Tuesday.

The investigation will be headed by the U.S. attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald, who will report to Ashcroft's new deputy, James Comey, the officials said. It was not immediately clear why Ashcroft made the decision.

Investigators want to know who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA officer, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak in July. Plame is married to former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, who has said he believes his wife's identity was disclosed to discredit his assertions that the Bush administration exaggerated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to build the case for war.

The leaker could be charged with a felony if identified.

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Darksheare]

There's an interesting thought.
If Wilson thought he was being clever or funny, hopefully whatever really was going on will be found out.

[Maximum Leader]

I agree with you, whether Joe Wilson is a jerk or not is irrelevant. His wife was done wrong and I think we need to put the hammer down on whoever leaked as a warning to future executive branch officials not to leak CIA officer's identities, even accidently.

We're not going to keep the Democrats out of the White House forever, and we can't set any precedents on this issue that a future Dem administration will run with.

People are making a lot of assertions--- everyone knew Valerie was undercover, no one's life was put in danger, the Wilsons themselves reveals Valerie's identity to others-- that there is no solid evidence for.

From what I've read, Patrick Fitzgerald seems like a straight arrow who will get to the bottom of this.

[My2Cents]

We're not going to keep the Democrats out of the White House forever

But we can try.

[familyofman]

"People are making a lot of assertions--- everyone knew Valerie was undercover, no one's life was put in danger, the Wilsons themselves reveals Valerie's identity to others-- that there is no solid evidence for. "

Using the - if you say it often enough, it must be true - rule of logic. National security is far too important to be playing politics with, and should never be approved of, no matter who the guilty party is (note: I did not imply treason).

[Headfulofghosts]

Whoever, leaked the name should be prosecuted, but there are several holes in all of this. One, the media keeps refering to Valerie as an undercover CIA agent, yet there are numerous photos of her at dinners and such with President Clinton. Would an " undercover" CIA agent, be meeting with the President of the United States, I doubt it. Second, the media claims she's been in the CIA for thirty years, making her ten years old when she first started?

[Mike4Freedom]

We're not going to keep the Democrats out of the White House forever, and we can't set any precedents on this issue that a future Dem administration will run with.

We all better remember this little fact real well. There are much more important precedents than this being set that will be used against the nation when a full fledged socialist, OOPS, I meant liberal, gets into office. How would you like Hillary using the "enemy combatant" title on FReepers.