[Brillo_Breaks]

Didn't the DOJ investigate this for a couple of months before turning it over to Fitzgerald?

Yeah. Investigation started July 30th, then December 30th Ashcroft (who ran that investigation) recruses himself and has his deputy pick someone. The deputy appoints Fitzgerald that same day.

Surely they would have determined Plame's status and in talking with Novak determined if her name or just status as Wilson's wife was leaked.

Presumably the CIA knew her status and whether a law may have been violated when they asked for an investigation, and if not, I'm relatively certain the Ashcroft's investigation would have figured that out...

[Howlin]

Presumably the CIA knew her status and whether a law may have been violated when they asked for an investigation

Then why not just SAY it one way or the other?

[McGavin999]

Presumably the CIA knew her status and whether a law may have been violated when they asked for an investigation, and if not, I'm relatively certain the Ashcroft's investigation would have figured that out...

The CIA presumably knew her status when Novak called to verify her employment. Why didn't they forbid him to publish the story?

[Dolphy]

Presumably the CIA knew her status and whether a law may have been violated when they asked for an investigation, and if not, I'm relatively certain the Ashcroft's investigation would have figured that out...

So do we conclude from this? 1) She was a covert agent who had been compromised or 2) that the DOJ upon dismissing that claim turned up something else or 3) that they wanted an independent confirmation because of the politics involved?