She was covert, and then went into CIA management in an noncovert position. But just because she made that shift doesn't mean that you can disclose that she was previously covert. The law protects the identity of previously covert operatives, as well. The purpose is to protect the CIA, and to protect her prior contacts, who were probably still covert.
But the key is that Rove did not disclose that she was covert. He talked to Cooper about her, but did not tell Cooper she was covert. In fact, he did not even know she was covert.
I don't believe that's the case at all. Rove's lawyer claims that Rove disclosed nothing concerning Plame to Cooper. Indeed, some months ago, Rove waived his confidentiality with all reporters. Cooper and the rest are free to reveal any and all discussions they have had with Rove.
It is far more likely, however, that it was Cooper who told Rove about Valerie Plame, her employment at CIA and her relationship to Joe Wilson.
I understand that she was once a covert agent, but the evidence points to her having been known (in Washington social circles) as a CIA agent. The very fact that she was widely known to work at the CIA means Rove couldn't have possibly "outted" her. All he did was state that Wilson had been sent to Africa on her recommendation, which was true.
Wilson had been shown to be a liar and he, the democrats and their mouthpiece MSM wanted to try and embarrass the Administration. So they threw up the "outted" allegations, and they got caught in their own liars web.
There's no way I have ant sympathy for the creeps......
"The law protects the identity of previously covert operatives, as well"
I think there's a five year limit on that, and WIlson/Plame had passed that 'statute of limitations.'