Since evidence now indicates that Plame was indeed covert, was it a crime to "out" her?

Question

Conservative posts about the Libby trial being a farce centered on the argument that Plame was never a covert operative to begin with so no crime was commited. Recent facts suggest the she was indeed considered a covert op. Was it a crime to leak the name of a covert operative? Was Cheney the leak?

Answer 1

Yes. Federal prohibits the release of classified information to anyone without the appropriate security clearance.

The proper procedure is to de-classify the information before releasing it. If this was not done, then federal law was violated.

As to who (if anyone) violated the law, let the investigation run its course and then maybe (maybe!) we will be able to more than make an arbitary (or partisan) guess. Let's get the facts.

Answer 2

What evidence would that be. No one was indicted for outing her even though it would certainly be a crime to do so if she were covert. Armatage has not been indicted, Libby was never accused of violating statutes covering these laws. The judge in the Libby trial would not allow her status to be told to the jurors on the case. Just because some people say she was covert does not make it so. Stick to the truth not your own set of facts

Answer 3

No crime was committed because Plame was not covert for five years. Fitzgerald could tell ya. Seriously.

Answer 4

I only know what I read, but from what I have read, she was a covert op (as she has stated now), she was outed because of Cheney's actions ANd it is unlawful to disclose classifeid information (IDs of covert ops are classified). Cheney should resign. Finally!

Answer 5

Clinton impeached for BJ??? (Ben & Jerry)
Valerie Plame (CIA!!!) “outed” for partisan reasons?
(Petty Bush and Vice-Petty Cheney)
Yeah, that is High Crime.
These should never have been the public’s business.
But there is Justice -
Clinton was acquitted and “Scooter” convicted.
2 Conservative "hit jobs" gone bad.
(Good shooting Dicky!)

PS. Don't worry NEOCONS, Dubya will pardon Scooter.
Partisanship aside, I concurr with coragryph.

Answer 6

Karl Rove DID NOT file a report stating that he gave information about the possible leak of classified information--even AFTER he found out she was covert>

The reason you file a report is so the intel agency can find out how much damage was done. They need that to take steps to correct it.

Why would Rove keep the agency from assessing the damage done by outing Plame?

I.E. how many of her innocent contacts might now be targets of foreign agencies?

Answer 7

Yeah, what "evidence?" She said so when she testified today? How is that "evidence?" Like I'd believe her! After all, when she WAS covert, wasn't convincing lying one of her skills?

Oh....and Libby DID commit a crime! He lied to the grand jury. THAT'S why he was tried and convicted. Same reason Clinton was impeached.

Answer 8

Apparently you don't know a thing about the CIA. A covert op does not sit in an office in Langley!! This is absolutely insanity. Try checking your facts too. Richard Armitadge was the source from the state department.

Answer 9

coragryph's answer is correct (as usual), but neglects criminal intent.

In order for Libby to have committed a crime, he would have to have outed her in an intentional violation of the law. If he did not know that her status was classified, then no crime has been committed.

He did, however, knowingly lie to a grand jury, so he is guilty of perjury one way or another.

Answer 10

She's covert because she said so??? yea right. She dropped off her crumb crunchers every day and drove her @ss right up to the big bad CIA headquarters to go to work. Every foreign spook in the country probably has the picture of every janitor that walks into that building. She was about as covert as the verizon dude's "network"

gullible media stooges.

Anyways, what about people who covertly stuff their socks with classified documents? Why aren't they being grilled by the democrattttttts.