White House Outs CIA Agent
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Subpoenas for White House
WASHINGTON -- The federal grand jury probing the leak of a covert CIA officer's identity has subpoenaed records of Air Force One telephone calls in the week before the officer's name was published in a column in July, according to documents obtained by Newsday.
Also sought in the wide-ranging document requests contained in three grand jury subpoenas to the Executive Office of President George W. Bush are records created in July by the White House Iraq Group, a little-known internal task force established in August 2002 to create a strategy to publicize the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
And the subpoenas asked for a transcript of a White House spokesman's press briefing in Nigeria, a list of those attending a birthday reception for a former president, and, casting a much wider net than previously reported, records of White House contacts with more than two dozen journalists and news media outlets.
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That subpoena also sought a complete transcript of a July 12 press "gaggle," or informal briefing, by then-White House press secretary Ari Fleischer while at the National Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. That transcript is missing from the White House Web site containing transcripts of other press briefings. In a transcript the White House released at the time to Federal News Service, Fleischer discusses Wilson and his CIA report.
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The subpoena with the second production deadline sought all documents from July 6 to July 30 of the White House Iraq Group. In August, the Washington Post published the only account of the group's existence.
A little-known group
It met weekly in the Situation Room, the Post said, and its regular participants included senior political adviser Karl Rove; communication strategists Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin and James R. Wilkinson; legislative liaison Nicholas E. Calio; policy advisers led by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and her deputy Stephen J. Hadley; and I. Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...,4860143.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines
WASHINGTON -- The federal grand jury probing the leak of a covert CIA officer's identity has subpoenaed records of Air Force One telephone calls in the week before the officer's name was published in a column in July, according to documents obtained by Newsday.
Also sought in the wide-ranging document requests contained in three grand jury subpoenas to the Executive Office of President George W. Bush are records created in July by the White House Iraq Group, a little-known internal task force established in August 2002 to create a strategy to publicize the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
And the subpoenas asked for a transcript of a White House spokesman's press briefing in Nigeria, a list of those attending a birthday reception for a former president, and, casting a much wider net than previously reported, records of White House contacts with more than two dozen journalists and news media outlets.
....
That subpoena also sought a complete transcript of a July 12 press "gaggle," or informal briefing, by then-White House press secretary Ari Fleischer while at the National Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. That transcript is missing from the White House Web site containing transcripts of other press briefings. In a transcript the White House released at the time to Federal News Service, Fleischer discusses Wilson and his CIA report.
......
The subpoena with the second production deadline sought all documents from July 6 to July 30 of the White House Iraq Group. In August, the Washington Post published the only account of the group's existence.
A little-known group
It met weekly in the Situation Room, the Post said, and its regular participants included senior political adviser Karl Rove; communication strategists Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin and James R. Wilkinson; legislative liaison Nicholas E. Calio; policy advisers led by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and her deputy Stephen J. Hadley; and I. Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationw...,4860143.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines
President Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, told the FBI in an interview last October that he circulated and discussed damaging information regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame with others in the White House, outside political consultants, and journalists, according to a government official and an attorney familiar with the ongoing special counsel's investigation of the matter.
But Rove also adamantly insisted to the FBI that he was not the administration official who leaked the information that Plame was a covert CIA operative to conservative columnist Robert Novak last July. Rather, Rove insisted, he had only circulated information about Plame after it had appeared in Novak's column. He also told the FBI, the same sources said, that circulating the information was a legitimate means to counter what he claimed was politically motivated criticism of the Bush administration by Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2004/03/waas-m-03-08.html
Interesting on two points:
Why the need to circulate a story that was already in the major news media? The president has admitted to not reading the newspapers, but I would guess that at least some of the staff do. The article suggests that the further spreading was to give the story "legs."
His opinion that disclosing the identity of a CIA agent who was the WIFE of a "critic" was a legitimate means to counter criticism.
Wilson by the way was hired by the government to investigate the claims and honestly reported his findings. He was proved correct. Taking action against him would have been bad enough.
Kind of a case of "shoot the messenger's wife."
But Rove also adamantly insisted to the FBI that he was not the administration official who leaked the information that Plame was a covert CIA operative to conservative columnist Robert Novak last July. Rather, Rove insisted, he had only circulated information about Plame after it had appeared in Novak's column. He also told the FBI, the same sources said, that circulating the information was a legitimate means to counter what he claimed was politically motivated criticism of the Bush administration by Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2004/03/waas-m-03-08.html
Interesting on two points:
Why the need to circulate a story that was already in the major news media? The president has admitted to not reading the newspapers, but I would guess that at least some of the staff do. The article suggests that the further spreading was to give the story "legs."
His opinion that disclosing the identity of a CIA agent who was the WIFE of a "critic" was a legitimate means to counter criticism.
Wilson by the way was hired by the government to investigate the claims and honestly reported his findings. He was proved correct. Taking action against him would have been bad enough.
Kind of a case of "shoot the messenger's wife."
Prosecutors Are Said to Have Expanded Inquiry Into Leak of C.I.A. Officer's Name
By DAVID JOHNSTON and RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Published: April 2, 2004
WASHINGTON, April 1 — Prosecutors investigating whether someone in the Bush administration improperly disclosed the identity of a C.I.A. officer have expanded their inquiry to examine whether White House officials lied to investigators or mishandled classified information related to the case, lawyers involved in the case and government officials say.
In looking at violations beyond the original focus of the inquiry, which centered on a rarely used statute that makes it a felony to disclose the identity of an undercover intelligence officer intentionally, prosecutors have widened the range of conduct under scrutiny and for the first time raised the possibility of bringing charges peripheral to the leak itself.
The expansion of the inquiry's scope comes at a time when prosecutors, after a hiatus of about a month, appear to be preparing to seek additional testimony before a federal grand jury, lawyers with clients in the case said. It is not clear whether the renewed grand jury activity represents a concluding session or a prelude to an indictment.
The broadened scope is a potentially significant development that represents exactly what allies of the Bush White House feared when Attorney General John Ashcroft removed himself from the case last December and turned it over to Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the United States attorney in Chicago.
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The suspicion that someone may have lied to investigators is based on contradictions between statements by various witnesses in F.B.I. interviews, the lawyers and officials said. The conflicts are said to be buttressed by documents, including memos, e-mail messages and phone records turned over by the White House.
At the same time, Mr. Fitzgerald is said to be investigating whether the disclosure of Ms. Plame's identity came after someone discovered her name among classified documents circulating at the upper echelons of the White House. It could be a crime to disclose information from such a document, although such violations are rarely prosecuted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/02LEAK.html?th
Just another Democratic witch hunt. Oooops, he's a Republican.
By DAVID JOHNSTON and RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Published: April 2, 2004
WASHINGTON, April 1 — Prosecutors investigating whether someone in the Bush administration improperly disclosed the identity of a C.I.A. officer have expanded their inquiry to examine whether White House officials lied to investigators or mishandled classified information related to the case, lawyers involved in the case and government officials say.
In looking at violations beyond the original focus of the inquiry, which centered on a rarely used statute that makes it a felony to disclose the identity of an undercover intelligence officer intentionally, prosecutors have widened the range of conduct under scrutiny and for the first time raised the possibility of bringing charges peripheral to the leak itself.
The expansion of the inquiry's scope comes at a time when prosecutors, after a hiatus of about a month, appear to be preparing to seek additional testimony before a federal grand jury, lawyers with clients in the case said. It is not clear whether the renewed grand jury activity represents a concluding session or a prelude to an indictment.
The broadened scope is a potentially significant development that represents exactly what allies of the Bush White House feared when Attorney General John Ashcroft removed himself from the case last December and turned it over to Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the United States attorney in Chicago.
.....
The suspicion that someone may have lied to investigators is based on contradictions between statements by various witnesses in F.B.I. interviews, the lawyers and officials said. The conflicts are said to be buttressed by documents, including memos, e-mail messages and phone records turned over by the White House.
At the same time, Mr. Fitzgerald is said to be investigating whether the disclosure of Ms. Plame's identity came after someone discovered her name among classified documents circulating at the upper echelons of the White House. It could be a crime to disclose information from such a document, although such violations are rarely prosecuted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/02LEAK.html?th
Just another Democratic witch hunt. Oooops, he's a Republican.
Wilson Names Three Possible CIA Leakers
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Columnist Robert Novak has said only that "two senior administration officials" were his sources.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...36&e=4&u=/ap/20040429/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak
Still can't figure out why Bush refused to even ask his staff if they did it.
Any plausible reason you can think of?
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Columnist Robert Novak has said only that "two senior administration officials" were his sources.
....
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...36&e=4&u=/ap/20040429/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak
Still can't figure out why Bush refused to even ask his staff if they did it.
Any plausible reason you can think of?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two journalists, including NBC's Tim Russert, have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department in the investigation into who leaked the name of a covert CIA operative, according to the journalists' media outlets.
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http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/05/22/journalists.subpoena/
Why doesn't the president ask his staff who did it?
We know for a fact one of them did.
Why doesn't he ask them?
...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/05/22/journalists.subpoena/
Why doesn't the president ask his staff who did it?
We know for a fact one of them did.
Why doesn't he ask them?
crackmonkey
Graduate Poster
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I thought he did discuss it with the staff some time ago...
Regnad Kcin
Penultimate Amazing
I know! I know! Because none of them got a blowjob!subgenius said:
shemp
a flimsy character...perfidious and despised
subgenius said:
How do you know? Doesn't Mrs. Shrub give him a hummer now and then?
quote
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Bush Asks Outside Attorney To Represent Him In CIA Leak Case
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- President George W. Bush has sought the help of an outside lawyer to represent him in the probe into who leaked the name of a CIA operative to a newspaper columnist, CBS News reported Wednesday night.
Believing that Bush will be interviewed or asked to testify before a grand jury, White House officials confirmed that the president has put a Washington attorney "on hot stand-by," CBS News reported.
The identity of the Central Intelligence Agency operative, Valerie Plame, was disclosed last July by columnist Robert Kovak who said he got the information from administration sources. Plame's husband is former diplomat Joseph Wilson, who had publicly challenged the administration's claim that Iraq had tried to obtain uranium for nuclear weapons in Africa.
Bush has said he has no tolerance for such leaks and has said in the past he had no idea if the person who leaked the information would ever be found.
CBS News reported that no one so far has suggested that Bush had anything to do with the leak or even knew about it before it became public.
The outside attorney is Jim Sharp, CBS News reported.
There was no indication that was a target of the leak investigation, but the president has decided that "in the event that he needs his advice," he would retain him," White House deputy Claire Buchan said, according to The Associated Press reported.
"The president has said that everyone should cooperate in this matter and that would include himself," Buchan said.
She deflected questions about whether Bush had been asked to appear before a grand jury in the case.
http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_ne...national.nasdaq.com/asp/gmWorldNews.asp&headl
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I always thought Bush was too stupid to actually be cognizant of the things Rove gets up to .
BTW, wasn`t Joseph Wilson one of the US abassadors who signed that statement critical of Bush & cabal's warmongering politics in the ME?
In any case, he has some prominent supporters.
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Bush Asks Outside Attorney To Represent Him In CIA Leak Case
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- President George W. Bush has sought the help of an outside lawyer to represent him in the probe into who leaked the name of a CIA operative to a newspaper columnist, CBS News reported Wednesday night.
Believing that Bush will be interviewed or asked to testify before a grand jury, White House officials confirmed that the president has put a Washington attorney "on hot stand-by," CBS News reported.
The identity of the Central Intelligence Agency operative, Valerie Plame, was disclosed last July by columnist Robert Kovak who said he got the information from administration sources. Plame's husband is former diplomat Joseph Wilson, who had publicly challenged the administration's claim that Iraq had tried to obtain uranium for nuclear weapons in Africa.
Bush has said he has no tolerance for such leaks and has said in the past he had no idea if the person who leaked the information would ever be found.
CBS News reported that no one so far has suggested that Bush had anything to do with the leak or even knew about it before it became public.
The outside attorney is Jim Sharp, CBS News reported.
There was no indication that was a target of the leak investigation, but the president has decided that "in the event that he needs his advice," he would retain him," White House deputy Claire Buchan said, according to The Associated Press reported.
"The president has said that everyone should cooperate in this matter and that would include himself," Buchan said.
She deflected questions about whether Bush had been asked to appear before a grand jury in the case.
http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_ne...national.nasdaq.com/asp/gmWorldNews.asp&headl
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I always thought Bush was too stupid to actually be cognizant of the things Rove gets up to .
BTW, wasn`t Joseph Wilson one of the US abassadors who signed that statement critical of Bush & cabal's warmongering politics in the ME?
In any case, he has some prominent supporters.
crackmonkey
Graduate Poster
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- 1,057
Is it customary for an executive to question his employees about such matters when there's an investigation being conducted? Frankly, I think it could lead to some conflict-of-interest issues. Isn't it better to ask everyone to cooperate fully and not potentially disrupt the investigation?
June 5, 2004
Cheney Reportedly Interviewed in Leak of C.I.A. Officer's Name
By DAVID JOHNSTON
WASHINGTON, June 4 — Vice President Dick Cheney was recently interviewed by federal prosecutors who asked whether he knew of anyone at the White House who had improperly disclosed the identity of an undercover C.I.A. officer, people who have been involved in official discussions about the case said on Friday.
Mr. Cheney was also asked about conversations with senior aides, including his chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, according to people officially informed about the case. In addition, those people said, Mr. Cheney was asked whether he knew of any concerted effort by White House aides to name the officer. It was not clear how Mr. Cheney responded to the prosecutors' questions.
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It is not clear when or where Mr. Cheney was interviewed, but he was not questioned under oath and he has not been asked to appear before the grand jury, people officially informed about the case said.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/05/politics/05LEAK.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=
Cheney Reportedly Interviewed in Leak of C.I.A. Officer's Name
By DAVID JOHNSTON
WASHINGTON, June 4 — Vice President Dick Cheney was recently interviewed by federal prosecutors who asked whether he knew of anyone at the White House who had improperly disclosed the identity of an undercover C.I.A. officer, people who have been involved in official discussions about the case said on Friday.
Mr. Cheney was also asked about conversations with senior aides, including his chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, according to people officially informed about the case. In addition, those people said, Mr. Cheney was asked whether he knew of any concerted effort by White House aides to name the officer. It was not clear how Mr. Cheney responded to the prosecutors' questions.
...
It is not clear when or where Mr. Cheney was interviewed, but he was not questioned under oath and he has not been asked to appear before the grand jury, people officially informed about the case said.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/05/politics/05LEAK.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=
Ladewig
I lost an avatar bet.
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Today President Bush was questioned about what he knows about the matter. Calm down, you Democrats, there is no chance of impeachment because he was not under oath during the questioning.
Washington Post
__________
October 2003, the president does his very best Sgt. Schultz impersonation.
GWB: "I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and there's a lot of senior officials. I don't have any idea."
Washington Post
__________
October 2003, the president does his very best Sgt. Schultz impersonation.
GWB: "I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and there's a lot of senior officials. I don't have any idea."