Bush Calls CIA Leak a 'Criminal Action'
Monday, President Bush discussed the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Of course he said it's a serious matter. But he also said it's a criminal action. Let's see him backtrack from that one. Or, maybe he knows who will take the fall for the leak and it's not one of his top henchmen. Or they've figured out a way for Karl Rove to be insulated.
Bush, in his most extensive comments about the leak to date, urged the person who disclosed the information to come forward. "I'd like to know who leaked, and if anybody has got any information inside our government or outside our government who leaked, you ought to take it to the Justice Department so we can find the leaker," the president said.
Bush added that "we're talking about a criminal action" and that he looked forward "to finding the truth."
As of Monday, only 500 of the 2,000 White House employees had responded to the Justice Department's request for documents. The deadline is 5:00 pm today.
Investigators say they want access to electronic records, phone logs, documents and diaries that relate to former Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, a trip he took to Niger in 2002, his wife's relationship with the CIA, or any contact with the syndicated columnist Robert Novak and two other reporters who wrote about Wilson.
Then there's this: White House officials are going to review all material before turning it over to the Justice Department--a review they say may take weeks:
< Criticism Mounting Over Execution Drug | The Telemarketing Judge > |