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Bush: 'Perhaps Somebody in the Administration' Outed CIA Operative Valerie Plame
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ShareJuly 12, 2007 12:03 PM
ABC News' Jason Ryan, Theresa Cook and Jon Garcia report: President George W. Bush acknowledged publicly for the first time Thursday that "perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name" of then-CIA operative Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador Joseph Wilson.
"I'm aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person," Bush told reporters Thursday during a White House press conference.
When the controversy began four years ago, Bush said he would fire anyone in his administration found to have publicly disclosed the identity of Plame, then a CIA operative, which is a federal crime.
"You know, I've often thought about what would have happened had that person come forth and said, 'I did it.' Would we have had this, you know, endless hours of investigation and a lot of money being spent on this matter?" Bush said.
The President said it has been "a tough issue for a lot of people in the White House, and it's run its course, and now we're going to move on."
Bush recently commuted the 30-month prison sentence given to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the Vice President's former chief of staff, in connection with the case. The President defended his controversial decision to commute the sentence Thursday, saying, "The Scooter Libby decision was, I thought, a fair and balanced decision."
Libby was convicted in March of lying to the FBI and a grand jury, as well as obstruction of justice in the CIA leak investigation. Bush kept the other portions of Libby's sentence, two years probation and a $250,000 fine, intact. Libby paid the fine last week.
July 12, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (84)
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This White House Administration is more tainted than fish and toothpaste from China.
Posted by: Karen | Jul 12, 2007 12:27:18 PM
Ya think?
Posted by: Ron | Jul 12, 2007 12:34:59 PM
"It's run its course, and now we're going to move on..." WHAT? It hasn't "run its course" just because Libby was convicted of perjury to protect the person who did disclose the name. I can't believe this joker was actually elected...twice.
Posted by: Tom G | Jul 12, 2007 12:43:32 PM
The press should stop asking this creep questions. Everything the man says is an insult to the intelligence of the American people. If the press showed distain for his lies and pompous rhetoric by speaking to him, perhaps he would just shut his stupid mouth for once and for all and save us some small part of the grief he has caused us.
Posted by: maddymappo | Jul 12, 2007 12:52:10 PM
I can't believe this president -- finally admitting someone in the White House leaked the name. He said he was going to fire whoever did it so no I am waiting to see who he will fire. I, too, can't believe that this guy was elected twice. I was a republican but I did not vote for him! This is not over-- he and Cheney need to be EMPEACHED!
Posted by: Jan | Jul 12, 2007 12:56:50 PM
Twice I voted against Bush because I knew what his views were and twice I saw him re-elected. It is a bitter-sweet memory and I so wish the country hadn't done this to themselves.
Posted by: Bonnie Miles | Jul 12, 2007 1:06:49 PM
My immediate questions are:
When did you know this Mr. President?
Why didn’t you tell us earlier?
Who was the leaker?
Why are you covering this up?
Why are steadfast in not allowing people in your administration to testify on this issue under oath, with a transcript in public? What are you afraid of?
When is someone going to be fired like you promised?
Posted by: Wendy | Jul 12, 2007 1:11:21 PM
I cannot believe that someone would out a CIA operative for political reasons. This playing God with other people's lives with no corresponding benefit. I respect folks that put it all on the line to defend this country and I despise those that seemingly make those sacrifices frivolous.
Posted by: phcarson | Jul 12, 2007 1:13:06 PM
Thank you George you are a moron.
Posted by: ant | Jul 12, 2007 1:14:31 PM
>>I cannot believe that someone would out a CIA operative for political reasons.
Get a clue, this stuff goes on everyday and not just in this white house but others too. Not to mention certain meda properties like the NYT!
Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 12, 2007 1:20:51 PM
Fair and balanced just like Fox News!!
Posted by: Sue | Jul 12, 2007 1:24:43 PM
Who cares! I think we should all move on and concentrate on the important things in life.
Posted by: Preacher Shepard | Jul 12, 2007 1:27:42 PM
Another day, another slap in the face by this poor excuse of a leader (or in his case, dictator). I am ashamed of the whole mess in DC. Not one person in this administration is capable of telling the truth or taking the blame for something. And what happened to the statement where shrub said he would fire anyone who did this? I will not move on until they are run out of town and we get some people in that building that actually have an IQ higher than a pencil eraser.
Posted by: sl | Jul 12, 2007 1:33:26 PM
Not surprisingly, once again George Bush just doesn't get it. It hasn't "run its course". Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and the other leakers are still in the Administration. How can anyone be so clueless? And of course I'm talking about the people that actually voted for Bush.
Posted by: informedone | Jul 12, 2007 1:33:55 PM
I would love to see Bush impeached for all that he and his administration have done, but too many in Congress are allied with him to see that done. Maybe we should come up with term limits. I believe in a 2 term limit: 1 in office and 1 in jail!
Posted by: Steve | Jul 12, 2007 2:00:19 PM
Republican's new motto.... You can't handle the TRUTH!!!!!!
Posted by: jonathan kess | Jul 12, 2007 2:09:20 PM
Its easy to see who is attracted to ABC News..its laughable..
Posted by: Joe | Jul 12, 2007 2:09:44 PM
It is sad that he knows someone in his administration outed Ms. Plame, yet he has no intentions of following though and firing them. Instead he says "it has run it's course" Not until you keep your word it hasn't.
Posted by: Stacy | Jul 12, 2007 2:16:19 PM
First someone draw George W. Bush a pie chart and show him what his 29% approval rating looks like then begin impeachment proceeding for he and Cheney both.
Posted by: Claudia | Jul 12, 2007 2:17:59 PM
Our country at so many levels has become pathetic. We're no longer seen as a model to be admired but rather simply a place where hide and exploit the arrogance of Americans. I lived abroad in a number of different countries for 12 years and had the chance to look back at the U.S. from the outside and now that I'm back, sometimes I'm simply ashamed.
Posted by: Don | Jul 12, 2007 2:18:52 PM
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