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WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky
today released a statement calling on President Bush to uphold his
Administration’s promise to fire the person responsible for leaking the identity
of a covert CIA agent to the press in 2003. A Newsweek article released
today reported that Rove had a conversation with Time magazine reporter
Matthew Cooper on July 11, 2003, revealing the identity of Valerie Plame as a
CIA agent specializing in WMD. In September
2003, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters, “If anyone in
this administration was involved in [the leak], they would no longer be in this
administration,” and responded “yes” when asked if the leaker should be fired.
Below is the text of Representative Schakowsky’s
statement:
“For two years President Bush and members of his
administration have denied that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove
revealed the identity of CIA-agent, Valerie Plame. Today it was made clear that
these denials did not reflect the truth - Karl Rove leaked the identity of a
covert CIA agent to the press. Rove played politics with our national security,
Valerie Plame’s life, and those associated with her.”
“If the President cares more about national security
and the safety of our covert agents than he does about politics and protecting
his friends, his only choice is to uphold his Administration’s promise to fire
any person involved in leaking Valerie Plame’s identity. The President must fire
Karl Rove.”
“This scandal requires an answer to the question:
When did the President know that one of his top aides revealed the identity of a
covert CIA agent? And what will the President do now that America knows Mr. Rove
is responsible for endangering Valerie Plame’s life?” |
