Waxman's July 18 letter to Bush

[existentialist]

I just picked this up from truthout.org.
Actually I've quoted most of the letter which is short.


Waxman: Bush Statement on Rove Conflicts with Executive Order
By Rep. Henry A. Waxman
YubaNet

Monday 18 July 2005

Dear Mr. President:

In June 2004, you said that you would fire anyone found to be involved in the disclosure of Valerie Wilson's identity as a covert CIA agent. <1> Today, you significantly changed your position, stating that you would remove Karl Rove or other White House officials involved in the security breach only "if someone committed a crime." <2>

Your new standard is not consistent with your obligations to enforce Executive Order 12958, which governs the protection of national security secrets. The executive order states: "Officers and employees of the United States Government ... shall be subject to appropriate sanctions if they knowingly, willfully, or negligently ... disclose to unauthorized persons information properly classified." <3> Under the executive order, the available sanctions include "reprimand, suspension without pay, removal, termination of classification authority, loss or denial of access to classified information, or other sanctions." <4>

Under the executive order, you may not wait until criminal intent and liability are proved by a prosecutor. Instead, you have an affirmative obligation to take "appropriate and prompt corrective action." <5> And the standards of proof are much different. A criminal violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald is investigating, requires a finding that Mr. Rove "intentionally disclose" the identity of a covert agent. <6> In contrast, the administrative sanctions under Executive Order 12958 can be imposed without a finding of intent. Under the express terms of the executive order, you are required to impose administrative sanctions - such as removal of office or termination of security clearance - if Mr. Rove or other officials acted "negligently" in disclosing or confirming information about Ms. Wilson's identity.

[rodeodance]

1. hey Jr, a man of wisdom is speaking-Listen up!!

[Erika]

2. Someone needs to hold W accountable for his mouth

Waxman has guts.

[wli]

3. the FBI can arrest Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Boykin et al?

I like this idea.

[dArKeR]

4. Rove can't remember who he heard the Top Secret informaion about

Plame. So who and what else is Rove telling foreign agents? If the man can't remember this than it's possible he's telling people other Top Secret information.

Our D- MBA student can't solve this he sure isn't capable of solving terrorism!

I think Bolton was getting intercepts on Fitzgerald's investigation into Plame.

Worse Than Watergate!

[dxstone]

9. Can't remember, huh?

Perhaps a little waterboarding is in order, followed by some stress positions held in 120 degree weather and the like...
Hey, it's not torture anymore!... it's calisthenics!
And even if it IS torture, it's the New American Way!
9/11 changed everything, right?
So let's help 'em remember... and keep those nutritious and delicious gourmet chicken meals comin'!
d

[rainy]

12. Rove said he heard it first from Novak

[proud patriot]

5. Wheeeeeeee !

I have Lots of love for Waxman :-)

[Seabiscuit]

6. If only we had more Waxmans! Bravo!

[Supersedeas]

14. Yep, more courageous Americans in Congress

[Stand and Fight]

7. Nice letter. Kicked.

[truthisfreedom]

8. link

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071805Q.shtml

[dxstone]

10. Kicking and nominating any post repeating this important info! n/t

[paineinthearse]

11. I've quoted most of the letter which is short

1. Letters from Rep. Waxman to * are in the public domain.
2. Get complete copies at the House Government Affairs (Dem) website.

[wallwriter]

13. Conyers - Waxman '08

or maybe Waxman - Conyers. Whichever.