[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT BEEN HONEST WITH AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT CIA LEAK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 4, 2005, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, for 2 years now, the White House has not 
leveled with the American people about its involvement in the leaking 
of a covert CIA operative's name to the press. As a former Ambassador, 
you have covert agents operating within your authority. To let those 
names become public could destroy the whole mission.
  On October 1, 2003, White House press secretary Scott McClellan was 
asked about both Karl Rove and Scooter Libby's possible involvement in 
the leaking of Valerie Plame's identity. Mr. McClellan told reporters 
that they assured him they were not involved. One month earlier, 
McClellan told reporters, ``If anyone in this administration was 
involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration.''
  Well, Mr. Speaker, it is clear that both Rove and Libby were involved 
and yet they both remain in the administration. Does the President 
forget how serious this issue is? Remember, it was his own father, a 
former CIA director, who said in 1999 that he had ``nothing but 
contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name 
of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is time the President addresses these negative 
matters that are infecting all areas of the Republican Party here in 
Washington.

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