Disclosure of CIA Agent Identity

On July 14, 2003, columnist Robert Novak wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Chicago-Sun-Times, the Washington Post, and many other major newspapers publicly identifying Valerie Plame -- the wife of Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson -- as a covert CIA agent. Mr. Novak's column cited "two senior administration officials" as the source of the information. (Source: Robert D. Novak, The Mission to Niger, Chicago-Sun Times [July 14, 2003].)

Rep. Waxman has called for Government Reform Committee hearings on whether White House officials breached national security law by disclosing the identity of a CIA agent and has sought information from National Security Advisor Rice on how the White House responds to allegations regarding the release of classified information. Rep. Waxman and other senior members of Congress, including House Democratic Leader Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Daschle, have requested a GAO investigation into whether the White House complied with internal security procedures for protecting Valerie Plame's identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.

Latest News

Committee Report Criticizes President’s Assertion of Executive Privilege

The Committee will next Tuesday consider a report supported by Chairman Henry A. Waxman and former Ranking Member Tom Davis finding that President Bush made a “legally unprecedented and an inappropriate use of executive privilege” when he directed Attorney General Mukasey to withhold Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald’s interview of Vice President Cheney from the Committee.

Committee Seeks Information About Documents Withheld Under Executive Privilege

Chairman Waxman sent letters seeking additional information about documents withheld from the Committee under claims of executive privilege by President Bush, including documents relating to whether the White House complied with the Clean Air Act on important environmental decisions and documents relating to the outing of covert CIA official Valerie Plame Wilson.

Chairman Waxman Warns Attorney General of Scheduled Contempt Vote

Chairman Waxman writes Attorney General Mukasey that the Oversight Committee will vote to hold him in contempt unless the Attorney General produces a copy of the report of the FBI interview of Vice President Cheney in the investigation of the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, a covert CIA agent.

Oversight Committee Subpoenas Justice Department for Plame Documents

Today, the Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Attorney General Mukasey compelling the production of FBI interview reports of Vice President Cheney and President Bush and other documents regarding the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

New Questions about Vice President Cheney’s Role in CIA Leak

Chairman Waxman urges Attorney General Mukasey to turn over the FBI interviews of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, citing new information from the FBI interview of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby and the recent disclosures by Scott McClellan.

Chairman Waxman Urges Attorney General to Provide Plame Documents

In a letter to the Attorney General, Chairman Waxman reiterated his request for documents from Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald’s investigation into the leak of the covert identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson, noting the absence of any pending Justice Department investigation or litigation.

Committee Reiterates Request for Documents Related to Plame-Wilson Disclosure

Chairman Waxman and Rep. Davis send a letter to CIA Director General Hayden reiterating their request for documents relevant to the Committee's investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

New Evidence of Security Problems at the White House

Current and former employees of the White House Security Office have reported to Chairman Waxman that there was a systemic failure at the White House to follow procedures for protecting classified information. According to the security officers, the White House regularly ignored security breaches, prevented security inspections of the West Wing, and condoned mismanagement of the White House Security Office.

Committee to Consider Subpoena of Andrew Card

Chairman Waxman informs former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card that the Oversight Committee will meet on April 25 to consider a subpoena for Mr. Card’s testimony regarding the leak of Valerie Plame Wilson’s covert identity and White House security procedures unless Mr. Card agrees to appear before the Committee voluntarily.

Chairman Waxman Asks Andrew Card for Interview Regarding White House Security Procedures

Chairman Waxman asks former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card for an on-the-record interview regarding White House security procedures designed to protect classified information.

Committee Requests CIA Documents Related to Disclosure of CIA Agent

Citing concerns that a Senate Intelligence Committee report may be inaccurate, Chairman Waxman asks the CIA for Agency memos related to Ambassador Wilson's February 2002 trip to Niger and the subsequent disclosure of Ms.Wilson’s covert status. Ms. Wilson recently testified before the Oversight Committee that the Senate report incorrectly claims that she was responsible for her husband’s mission, and that the CIA official who authored related memos attempted to correct the Senate’s distortions was denied the opportunity to clarify the matter.

Waxman Questions White House Security Practices

Rep. Waxman asks White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten to explain why the White House failed to conduct any investigation following the disclosure of Valerie Plame Wilson’s covert CIA employment. The letter follows the testimony of the Director of the Office of Security at the White House, James Knodell, that the White House Security Office did not follow the investigative steps prescribed by Executive Order 12958.

Hearing Examines Exposure of Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson's Identity

The Oversight Committee held a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the hearing, the Committee received testimony from Ms. Wilson and other experts regarding the disclosure and internal White House security procedures for protecting her identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.

Rep. Waxman Calls for Public Accounting of Rove’s Actions in CIA Leak Case

In light of reports that Special Counsel Fitzgerald will not pursue criminal charges against Karl Rove -- and does not appear likely to file a report or make other public statements about findings -- Rep. Waxman renews his request to Chairman Davis for a congressional investigation that would provide public accountability and address unanswered questions.

Ample Precedent for Congressional Investigation into Disclosure of CIA Agent

In a letter to Chairman Davis, Rep. Waxman renews his request for hearings into the outing of CIA agent Valerie Wilson, citing many precedents for congressional oversight occurring concurrently with a criminal investigation.

Questions and Answers about White House Security Clearances

Rep. Waxman sends White House Counsel Harriet Miers a series of questions and answers about the rules governing security clearances and the protection of classified information for use in the ethics “refresher courses.”

Rep. Waxman Renews Request for Hearings on Leak Case

Rep. Waxman asks for congressional hearings to examine (1) who should be held accountable for the leak of the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson, (2) why the White House failed to meet its obligations to revoke the security clearances of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and Karl Rove, and (3) how the leak relates to the broader issue of whether the President and his top advisors used misleading intelligence to launch an unnecessary war in Iraq.

Former Intelligence Officials Testify About Damage Caused by Outing of Covert CIA Agent

| At a hearing co-chaired by Rep. Waxman and Senator Byron Dorgan, several former intelligence officials testify about the damage to national security caused by the White House outing of covert CIA official Valerie Plame Wilson.

House and Senate Democratic Panels to Hold Oversight Hearing on Consequences of Disclosing Covert Intelligence Identities

Rep. Waxman and Sen. Dorgan will co-chair a joint hearing at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 22, to examine the national security implications of disclosing the identity of a covert intelligence officer. The panel of witnesses will include former intelligence officers.

New Bush Statement on Rove Conflicts with Executive Order

Rep. Waxman explains that the President's responsibility under E.O. 12958 to protect national security secrets requires the President to act before Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald completes his criminal investigation and to apply different standards and sanctions.

Karl Rove’s Nondisclosure Agreement

A fact sheet released by Rep. Waxman explains that the nondisclosure agreement signed by Karl Rove prohibited Mr. Rove from confirming the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Wilson to reporters. Under the nondisclosure agreement and the applicable executive order, even “negligent” disclosures to reporters are grounds for revocation of a security clearance or dismissal.

Reps. Waxman, Holt, and Inslee Move to Force Administration to Provide Information about Plame Outing

Reps. Waxman, Holt, and Inslee introduce a resolution of inquiry to require the Bush Administration to provide information about who revealed the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

Rep. Waxman Questions the Post-Leak Actions of the White House in the Rove Case

Rep. Waxman writes to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card to ask whether the White House complied with Executive Order 12958, which require an internal investigation and the implementation of remedial measures, after the White House learned about the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Wilson.

Rep. Waxman Calls for Hearing on Rove's Role in Plame Outing

In light of mounting evidence that Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove may have been involved in the outing of a covert CIA agent, Rep. Waxman once again called for Chairman Davis to hold a hearing to investigate whether White House officials breached national security law by disclosing the agent’s identity. In on a one-minute speech on the House floor, Rep. Waxman cited former-President Bush’s statement that those who expose the identity of such agents are “the most insidious of traitors.”

Legal Analysis Finds No Impediments to Full White House Cooperation with Leak Investigation

Rep. Waxman and Chairman Davis write White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to pass along a recent CRS analysis that indicates there are no legal impediments preventing the White House from taking strong action to ensure that White House officials cooperate with the Justice Department investigation of the leak of a former covert CIA operative’s identity.

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