Changes

In July 2003, her connection to the CIA was revealed by political columnist [[Robert Novak]] in his column. In May 2019 Plame announced her plan to run for the [[Democratic party]] seat held by [[Benny Ray Luhan]] in [[New Mexico]]'s First Congressional district.

In July 2003, her connection to the CIA was revealed by political columnist [[Robert Novak]] in his column. In May 2019 Plame announced her plan to run for the [[Democratic party]] seat held by [[Benny Ray Luhan]] in [[New Mexico]]'s First Congressional district.

Opponents of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], particularly Democrats, accused the White House of "outing" Plame in retaliation for her husband's statement undercutting Bush's invasion rationale.

Opponents of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], particularly Democrats, accused the White House of "outing" Plame in retaliation for her husband's statement undercutting Bush's invasion rationale.

Others have taken the contrary position, asserting that her CIA status either remains unclear or that she was never covered by the Identities Act; that no one who revealed her identity broke any law by doing so; that there was no political motivation on the part of administration insiders (or supporters) to harm Plame or Wilson.

Others have taken the contrary position, asserting that her CIA status either remains unclear or that she was never covered by the Identities Act; that no one who revealed her identity broke any law by doing so; that there was no political motivation on the part of administration insiders (or supporters) to harm Plame or Wilson.

==Accusations of administration wrong-doing==

==Special Counsel investigation==

At the time of the Novak column, Valerie Plame was a "covert CIA employee for whom the CIA was taking affirmative measures to conceal her intelligence relationship to the United States." <ref>[https://www.salon.com/news/primary_sources/2007/05/30/plame/ Unclassified Summary of Valerie Wilsons CIA Employment And Cover History]</ref>  

At the time of the Novak column, Valerie Plame was a "covert CIA employee for whom the CIA was taking affirmative measures to conceal her intelligence relationship to the United States." <ref>[https://www.salon.com/news/primary_sources/2007/05/30/plame/ Unclassified Summary of Valerie Wilsons CIA Employment And Cover History]</ref>  

Then-Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]] was the head the initial investigation.  Justice Department and FBI officials requested a special prosecutor be named over concerns of the veracity of interviews with Karl Rove.  Attorney General Ashcroft, having connections to Karl Rove, recused himself from the case and Acting Attorney General [[James Comey]] appointed special prosecutor [[Patrick Fitzgerald]] to investigate the [[leak]].  

Then-Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]] was the head the initial investigation.  Justice Department and FBI officials requested a special prosecutor be named over concerns of the veracity of interviews with Karl Rove.  Attorney General Ashcroft, having connections to Karl Rove, recused himself from the case and Acting Attorney General [[James Comey]] appointed special prosecutor [[Patrick Fitzgerald]] to investigate the [[leak]].  

==Rebuttal of accusations==

==Rebuttal of accusations==

According to Robert Novak, Plame was not covered by the [[Intelligence Identities Protection Act]].<ref>"Novak wondered why Waxman, others didn't ask about baseless Plame assertions." March 23, 2007, Media Matters for America. http://mediamatters.org/research/200703230014</ref>

According to Robert Novak, Plame was not covered by the [[Intelligence Identities Protection Act]].<ref>"Novak wondered why Waxman, others didn't ask about baseless Plame assertions." March 23, 2007, Media Matters for America. http://mediamatters.org/research/200703230014</ref>