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Bush: 'Perhaps Somebody in the Administration' Outed CIA Operative Valerie Plame

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July 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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In the end.... when all is said and done... GW Bush will be nothing more than just a grease spot on the pages of history.

Posted by: Bush Grease Spot | Jul 12, 2007 2:23:25 PM

No matter is it is president Bush or his cousins the clinton's, the gore's, or the kerry's- the same people that are in charge are the same people that support the federal reserve, CIA, and the irs- Yes this includes CIA Front ABC-

imagine if the people knew that the 13th amendment was never ratified by the states and how their parents were brainwashed to pay this tax by the same mouse who runs the major media.

paying this income tax- 40% of their wages are being taken away and paying for an interest that the federal reserve charges us to print our money-

Wait till the people find out about the carbon tax that Cousin Gore and head Illumanti family ROTHCHILD are pushing for-

last week- Headline News- New Jersey first state to implament the carbon tax-

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Posted by: D4-Freedom | Jul 12, 2007 2:30:23 PM

No kidding. Now what is he going to do about it...

Still waiting...

Posted by: Tammy Stickers | Jul 12, 2007 2:30:50 PM

still waiting...

Posted by: Tammy Stickers | Jul 12, 2007 2:31:33 PM

It's far from over, until the criminal is behind bars no matter how high up he/she is, this will continue.

Posted by: Patriot 2008 | Jul 12, 2007 2:37:49 PM

To the anti-IRS posting:

Tom Cryer who was charged with tax evasion and failure to file was found innocent on his proof that the average American is not liable for income tax due to there not being any law that made him liable.

Anyone being being harassed by the IRS need to only ask for proof of the law.

Posted by: Patriot 2008 | Jul 12, 2007 2:41:02 PM

"Now we're going to move on" Oh...ok. Well yes...of course. George is tired of the heat on his administration for committing treason by exposing a CIA operative...an act which endangers not only the operative but everyone that operative has dealt with while working as an operative. Lets just shuffle aside the damage done to this nation's intelligence network and that network's potential to recover, ensuring that the gathering of information will be harder than ever. Yes...lets move on. I, for one, I'm tired of this silliness. Lets give “W” and his cadre a break. I mean...running the country is a tough job. Our esteemed leaders don’t need this distraction, what with all the ducking of subpoenas and redefining the three branches of government they’ve been doing lately. These guys have a lot on their plate, y’know? So lets stop all this arguing and bickering over who outted who and all of the potentially deadly repercussions to every one involved over someone's petty desire to get back and an outspoken ambassador. Lets just get over the fact that no one has paid for this black treachery, with the exception, of course, those it was inflicted upon including all of us. So whaddya say? I say we just ignore all this unpleasantness and go shopping.

Posted by: Brad | Jul 12, 2007 3:03:05 PM

"... that person ..."
What a brave man. Doesn't even have the courage to say Valerie Plame's name.

Posted by: unhipcat | Jul 12, 2007 3:04:20 PM

Am I the only one who has noticed that you never see Dick Cheney taking a drink of water when W is speaking? It's obvious that the leaker is the puppit master Cheney and Bush is an empty suit without him.

Posted by: Bob Beach | Jul 12, 2007 3:11:41 PM

I can't believe the press allows this guy to float his BS past them so easily. How can this guy lead our country when he can't even manage his administration? He has now admitted that someone in the administration violated the law. I guess "The Decider" better go ask "The Leader" (Cheney. For those who don't know who really is leading us straight to Hell.)

Posted by: BooMan | Jul 12, 2007 3:18:09 PM

This is fair and balanced when it is their friend and partner who joking or not openly named a operative. I was a former employee trying to clear the air of false testing within the NASA manufacturing environment and also a former marine with a classified clearance both of which were devastated by political minded and judicial forces and I have never been given a change to clear my name, or recover my family. There are other instances similar to this issue that are no longer with us who left this world in disgust over how they were treated by the system. My case has gone unanswered for two administrations, and through courts as high as we have available. What a shame, and I certainly cannot erase what had happen, most regretfully I was always correct and we needlessly lost craft and crew. The fact is, there are those that have learned very little from that past stream of mistakes. I want my rightful recovery and reputation as much as anyone but to get it at the cost of innocent others is not acceptable. I am also a Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD, and traumatic brain injury that has gone mistreated, untreated by the VA because of these issues.

Posted by: Williamwfh | Jul 12, 2007 3:18:24 PM

This is TREASON. Why does George W. Bush hate America??? He and his crony administration should be charged with War Crimes and IMPEACHED immediately!

Posted by: hellykitto | Jul 12, 2007 3:38:11 PM

So he lied right? When Clinton lied they wanted him impeached. Looks like it's time for impeachment proceedings to begin.

Posted by: G77084 | Jul 12, 2007 3:43:20 PM

I think we all know who outed Valarie Plame, and your right GW, he never did come right out and admit it... as a matter of fact, he STILL lies to us today... you get my drift there Benedict?

Posted by: Dave Clark | Jul 12, 2007 3:53:05 PM

Bush and Cheney = Warden Norton and Captain Hadley from the Shawshank Redemption. "His Judgement Cometh and that Right Soon."

Posted by: truth | Jul 12, 2007 3:53:06 PM

This is the sort of government we get when church and state are mixed.

Try not to vote for a religious nut next time, folks. We need competent presidents who can manage the functions of government, not a dry-drunk preacher who is more interested in your "values" than the operation of government.

Posted by: John McGilvray | Jul 12, 2007 4:00:19 PM

who has the nerve to end this?

Posted by: Kenneth | Jul 12, 2007 4:08:41 PM

You people need to seriously listen to yourselves. This is America and you people all full of nothing, but hatred. I can't believe there are so many paranoid people who can't and won't look at all this with a rational mind.

Posted by: amazed | Jul 12, 2007 4:21:12 PM

Remember when Nixon wants to 'move on' when he was linked to the Watergate scandal? Guess what happened to him.

Posted by: pug_ster | Jul 12, 2007 4:32:00 PM

Where were you people when a not to former president lied to the camera, "I did not have sexual relations..." and then got away with it saying, "what I do in my private life..." And now your about to vote in favor of reelecting his significant other. I am disappointed in your favortism. Be consistent all the politicians have let us down!!

Posted by: Ronald Hoskins | Jul 12, 2007 4:37:19 PM

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