The Beginning Of The End

Senior Democrats seek

assurances, final leak

investigation report

Larisa Alexandrovna
Link Here


The ranking member on the House Permanent Committee on Select Intelligence along with other senior Democrats issued a letter today requesting that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald submit a final and public report on his two-year investigation into the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson.

The letter, released to RAW STORY, requests “assurance that, upon completion” of the investigation – now nearing its completion – “[Fitzgerald] will submit a final public report to Congress of all indictments, convictions, and any decisions not to prosecute.” Normally, special prosecutors are required to submit a report to the U.S. Attorney General.

Signed by Jane Harman (D-CA), John Conyers (D-Michigan), Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), the letter expresses concern about any possible appearance of political influence and for possible acquiescence of legal authorities given the high level status of those under investigation.

“Such a report would ensure Congress and the American people that the investigation of this serious matter has been undertaken with the utmost diligence and has been free of partisan, political influence,” the letter states.

U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s investigation into the outing of CIA officer Valerie Wilson, who worked under deep cover as on weapons of mass destruction, has ensnared two high level White House officials, landed a journalist in jail and may possibly result in charges against senior White House officials.

Mrs. Wilson’s cover was blown in 2003 after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, penned an op-ed for the New York Times debunking a story asserting Iraq sought weapons-grade uranium from Niger. At the time, the claim was being used as the primary evidence for allegations that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Documents surrounding the assertions turned out to be forgeries.

Allegations in recent months have surrounded I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby - Chief of Staff to the Vice President and co-writer of the Administration's policy on preemptive war, and Karl Rove, senior advisor to President Bush. Both discussed and may have leaked Mrs. Wilson’s cover to reporters.

Other alleged conspirators include members of the White House Iraq Group (also known as WHIG), such as Karen Hughes - Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, as well as Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

Given the high level status of those allegedly involved, the House ranking members who issued the letter also want assurance that Fitzgerald’s case will not be in any way impeded by other appointed officials.

“Should your inquiry reveal that existing legal authorities are insufficient to ensure successful prosecution of these kinds of breaches, Congress should be made aware of that fact immediately,” the members state.

Harman serves as ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Holt as ranking member on the House Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy. Conyers is the ranking member on the House Committee on the Judiciary; Lantos sits as ranking member on the House Committee on International Relations.