White House Spurns Democrats on CIA Leak Probe

[True_Blue]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Wednesday spurned the advice of Democratic senators who had urged steps to ensure White House aides cooperate with a federal criminal probe of a news leak identifying a CIA operative.

"We believe it is inconsistent with the constitution's separation-of-powers principles for members of Congress to direct the president's management of White House employees, as it would be for the president to suggest specific ways in which senators should handle their own staffs," White House counsel Alberto Gonzales wrote to a group of Senate Democrats.

The leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity came after her husband, former diplomat Joseph Wilson, publicly criticized Bush administration Iraq policy.

Steps suggested by the Democrats included firing any staffer who did not cooperate with Justice Department investigators or tampered with records sought in the probe.
more...
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3623019

[FlashHarry]

1. Locking

Dupe: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=168497

Please scroll down and check if a story has already been posted.

Thanks.

FlashHarry
DU Moderator

[Cha]

2. Whatever...they are just hurting themselves More by

keeping it a Secret as to who the leaker is.

If we never know then Everyone is Suspect and we should get them all out in 2005!