Valerie Plame's Identity

VALERIE PLAME'S IDENTITY -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2005)

(Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, when news broke early this week that Karl Rove was involved in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, it was clear that either Karl Rove had been withholding his involvement from the White House, or that the White House knew of his involvement and falsely allowed the public to believe he had no role in the scandal.

This Congress should be outraged by Mr. Rove's involvement and should be demanding answers from both him and the White House. I would like to know when exactly, if ever, President Bush was told of Mr. Rove's involvement. If the President did indeed know, that means that the White House is involved in a coverup which should be investigated by this House.

Mr. Rove's actions are a major abuse of power. Valerie Plame was a covert CIA agent stationed in many hot spots around the world. When someone in the White House decided to leak her name to reporters, they were not only jeopardizing Plame's life, but also the lives of other covert agents she has been in contact with.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans should be concerned about whether or not this White House has been spreading this information. The only way we can get answers is by conducting a congressional investigation. It is time that this Congress do its job.

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