"Neeeever heard of em."
Posted on 07/11/2005 12:11:46 PM PDT by areafiftyone
To: National Desk
Contact: Naomi Seligman of Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington, 202-588-5565
WASHINGTON, July 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW) sent a letter today to President George Bush requesting that he immediately direct Karl Rove's security clearances be suspended pending the outcome of the government's investigation into the leak of Valerie Plame's identity as an undercover agent for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
As reported today in Newsweek, Karl Rove was a confidential source for Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper on the identification of a covert CIA agent. Rove disclosed that Ambassador Joseph Wilson's trip to Iraq to investigate charges that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from Niger was authorized by Mr. Wilson's wife, a CIA employee working on issues related to weapons of mass destruction. At that time, Valerie Plame, Ambassador Wilson's wife, was a covert operative with the CIA whose identity as such had not yet been publicly revealed.
Under federal law, it is a crime to "intentionally disclose () any information identifying" a covert agent “to any individual not authorized to received classified information." 50 U.S.C. (Section) 421(a). Thus, by disclosing to Matt Cooper Ms. Plame's relationship with the CIA and thereby identifying her as a covert agent, Mr. Rove appears to have committed an illegal act.
"Considering that it is a federal crime to identify covert agents, and that President Bush signed executive orders identifying the vital role the President plays in protecting national security secrets from unauthorized disclosure, it is appropriate for the President to suspend Mr. Rove's clearance pending the investigation's outcome," Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today.
"The evidence uncovered so far raises serious questions about Mr. Rove's conduct and his ability to safeguard highly sensitive classified information. Until those questions are resolved, CREW believes it is not appropriate for Mr. Rove to have continued access to classified information. Anything short of suspension raises an unacceptable risk to our nation's security," Sloan wrote to the President today.
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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit, progressive legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. CREW drafted the complaint against Tom DeLay, filed by former Congressman Chris Bell, for which DeLay was admonished last year.
For more information, and a copy of the letter, visit http://www.citizensforethics.org or contact Naomi Seligman at 202-588-5565 or press@citizensforethics.org.
I would imagine I get a positive response before she does!
Starnge. They never sent the same note regarding Sandy Berger's pants-stuffing episode...
Their initials don't even spell CREW.
Pronounced "sewer"?
That was just a misdemeanor
Sort of like Judicial Watch an Larry Clayman.
He beat his head against the Clinton Wall but produced nary a crack.
Did C.R.E.W. ask for a suspension of Sandy Berger's security clearance during his investigation?
If a bear craps in the woods...
Take a chill-pill, Miz Melanie (or maybe one of MamaT's gin-soaked raisins!) You got the PEST real bad!!!
"Starnge"?
LOL!! You trying to be funny?
Where were these guys when Sandy Burglar was caught stuffing classified documents down his pants?
Heard Henry Waxman also sent one of his famous (OINK) LETTERS!
No, but they sued the Swifties.
"Neeeever heard of em."
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