Schumer Urges Karl Rove To Clear The Air On Plame Name Leak, Answer Questions Publicly

SCHUMER URGES KARL ROVE TO CLEAR THE AIR ON PLAME NAME LEAK, ANSWER QUESTIONS PUBLICLY

Schumer Calls on Rove to Publicly Respond This Week to Questions About What He Knew, When, and Who He Told about Covert CIA Operative's Identity

Senator: We Must Make Certain that Rove Didn't Leak Plame Identity and Didn't Direct Anyone Else to Do Dastardly Thing, Too Many Unanswered Questions Remain

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, who led the push in Congress for an aggressive investigation into the leaking of the identity of C.I.A. officer, Valerie Plame, today sent a letter to the White House asking a number of questions to clarify whether or not Rove actually leaked Plame's name, orchestrated the leak, or leaked significant information that would have indicated Plame's identity. In July 2003, Schumer called for an immediate investigation into the CIA leak and ensured that Jim Comey appointed an independent prosecutor, Fitzgerald. He also called for Alberto Gonzales and John Ashcroft to recuse themselves from the case.

Schumer stated, "The President himself has said that he wanted to get to the bottom of this awful White House leak immediately. I hope that Mr. Rove shows that same sense of urgency by answering the questions I have posed to him this week. Mr. Rove should tell Americans what he knew, when he knew it, and who he may have told about Valerie Plame's identity in order to clear the air once and for all."

"While White House Spokesman McClellan said that he would not comment on the leak investigation that should not bar you, not a lawyer, from answering these serious questions for the American people and Ms. Plame," Schumer said.

Schumer posed the following questions to Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rove:
• Did you know that the person who is Valerie Plame worked for the United States Government intelligence in any way before the July 14, 2003 publication of Robert Novak's column?
• Did you reveal to anyone that that Valerie Plame, "Joe Wilson's Wife," or any description that would effectively identity the person you were describing as Valerie Plame, was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency or in any intelligence capacity whatsoever?
• Did you have, or direct anyone else to have, conversations with members of the news media, regarding the person who is Valerie Plame before the July 14, 2003 publication of Robert Novak's column?
• To your knowledge, were you or any other Administration officials aware that Robert Novak's column, published July 14, 2003, would reveal Ms. Plame's identity?

"The betrayal of Valerie Plame's trust by the government she served is a tragic event, and one that must not go unresolved. By coming forward and clearly answering the preceding questions I believe that you have an opportunity to clear the air regarding the accusations that you had some involvement in this incident," Schumer concluded in his letter.

Click here to view letter - http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/Letters/2005/07.11.05%20Rove%20CIA%20Letter.pdf

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/pr-latest_news.html