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 just called them and asked them if they requested Sandy Berger's clearance be suspended and the answer was "no, our group did not feel he committed a crime". I was in middle of asking if they felt Mr. Rove committed a crime and they hung up on me.
That 'Rat-infested "CREW" can go pound sand up their ass.
Mr. berger didn't commit a crime?
Taking sensitive documents and cutting them up is not a crime? How did they ever get their jobs anyway? They hung up? Figures, huh? Man, they are all the same. Cant' debate so they attack, get mad or hang up. Losers all.
I never heard of this group before either. Probably another three-staffers-and-a-fax-machine outfit (like the so-called "Catholics for a Free Choice").
Did these same people ask to do the same for Sandy Berger? I can pretty much guarantee not.
Looks like cubreporter called and asked that question and they said they didn't think he committed a crime. "In otherwords he was a liberal and liberals are exempt of course. Only Republicans commit crimes! "
LOL
Mrs. Wilson wasn't an undercover agent and everyone knew she worked for the CIA anyway ... but Rove should be suspended, better yet drawn and quartered?
Because it's not the nature of the reality but the seriousness of progressive delusion we're dealing with here?
Berger should go to jail for what he did. And I'm beginning to wonder if he should be sharing a cell with Rove.
Maybe they're french?
If you really want to set them off ask them if Khobar Dicky Turbin's clearance should be suspended for giving aid to the enemy on the floor of the Senate.
It will be ironic if it comes out that Joe Wilson didn't have an active clearnace at the time of his double top secret mission to Niger. He hadn't worked for the Go'vt for nearly 4 years.
In other words the LEFTISTS don't have time for the TRUTH!
I am sure the President is treating her letter with all of the respect it deserves. I think is was spotted on a roller in one of the Oval Office lavatories.
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