It Is Time to Investigate the White House's Betrayal of Trust

Our country has spent over four years attempting to unravel the story surrounding the leak of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity by members of the Bush administration to a number of journalists. The leak jeopardized our national security and belies the administration's long standing claim that they and the Republican Party are best suited to keep America safe.

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan was one of the key figures in the Bush administration's efforts to respond publicly to the investigation into the Plame leak. He spoke for the White House and he was the filter through which the public learned about which officials were and were not involved in the leak. Standing in front of the White House Seal, McClellan famously denied any White House involvement in the leak, "If anyone in this administration was involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration."

Yesterday we found out that this simple statement attesting to McClellan's faith in the Bush administration's lawful behavior appears to be patently untrue. McClellan tells us, "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the president himself."

We need to launch an immediate investigation to determine the facts of this case, the extent of any cover up and determine what the President knew and when he knew it. If in fact the President of the United of States knowingly instructed his chief spokesman to mislead the American people, there can be no more fundamental betrayal of the public trust.

That any White House official, let alone the President and the Vice President of the United States, would instruct others to mislead the American people about revealing the identity of a covert CIA agent is beyond unconscionable. It is an action that makes us less safe and secure. Worse still, it undermines the ability of our intelligence community to act with the confidence that their work will not be jeopardized in order to advance the partisan interests of one political party.

The American public deserves to know the extent of President Bush's involvement in both the leak of Valerie Plame's identity and what efforts, if any, he made to direct a cover up. Scott McClellan has brought forward a new piece to this sordid puzzle - it is time, once and for all, for the public to know the full story behind the betrayal of Valerie Plame by the Bush administration.

Learn more about my candidacy for the Presidency at ChrisDodd.com.

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Comments

[Bob Egan]

It's getting to the point that Denis is the only one that listens to the American people! He gets my vote and I will be doing a lot of anti - incumbent voting ~~ especially Diane Feinstein.

She will sell her vote cheap! Should have a red light over her door!!

[Collielady]

Senator Dodd, the American people already know the extent of President Bush's impeachable involvement in this, and all the other high crimes and misdemeanors committed by his White House. If starting a war on false pretenses, which has led to the deaths of thousands of innocents, has not compelled Speaker Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table then this story surely won't move her either.

Congress has stated over and over again that it's all about '08. Because of this cavalier attitude they are gradually losing their base, which they so richly deserve, but which is unfortunate for those of us who held high hopes for change.

Maybe we should just let everything go. After all, we have a president who refuses to turn subpoenaed documents and witnesses over to Congress, and a Congress who refuses to hold the president in contempt. The Latin phrase sub poena means "under penalty". But there is no penalty. So it's official: we have a king.

[Pneumaticus]

Just take these boys out for a little quail hunting, hold the quail, and then let them shoot it out amongst themselves. No fuss, no muss.

[FreedomCorpse]

Senator Dodd. Thanks for writing about it all and everything but the US turning into a fascist country because of the 'threat' to national security because of some uneducated and poverty stricken islamic fundamentalists living 12,000 miles away is totally absurd.
Investigate 911 for christsake with civilian (non-government) experts and full judicial authority to go through State secrets (with prudence not obfuscation)

[430robin]

So Mr Dodd is disgusted, gee what has taken so long? The impeachment of GW is about 6 or 7 months Late I to am disappointed in Pelosi and Reid and THEIR cronies

[PostSoccerMom]

Senator Dodd; you've got all the power to do 'exactly' what you related here.

Show us you have that Presidential grit, guidance and 'GUT' to see wrong and make it right.

You see those criminals around Washington every day, week or whenever you knock on the White House door. I believe you are also an attorney.

GO MAKE A CITIZEN'S ARREST ON BEHALF OF A RUINED NATION - If you do this, while you are inside the Oval Office, you can measure for new drapes and rug (I'm sure when you finish wiping the floor with those animals, you'll need the place fumigated.­)

That's when you become President; and remember, HE WHO HESITATES IS LOST!

[Gonzalez]

Congress is in the democrats' hands. What are the democrats doing about it? As usual - nothing! Just talk and cave. This is what the democratic party has become. It is time for the American people to demend action out of these "no courage" Congress!

[PMERKEL37]

Thank you Senator Dodd!

Go get'em!

WE WILL SUPPORT YOU TO THE END!

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.­"

The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

[IntegrityIntact]

Impeach. Support Impeachment Senator Dodd, every time. Do so in public. Thank you for your work with habeas corpus and FISA. Let's Impeach those treasonous, depraved lawbreakers in our high offices. it's a disgrace to America every day their rot remains in office. Criminals like these belong in the Hague, not the WH.

[Bob Egan]

I understand that some comment was made to have the rug in the 'Oval Office' cleaned when President Clinton moved out. When Dubya and Co. move out, the place should be fumigated and quarantined until the HASMET team pronounces it safe!!

[Bob Egan]

Impeachment is not political! Impeachment was designed into the workings of our government to protect the constitution. As elected representatives, your oath of office is to uphold and protect the constitution. Impeachment is the tool that was provided to use when it is clear that the laws of this country are broken and reasonable attempts to correct the situation have failed. Many constitutional scholars have seen more than enough reason to investigate this administration for its utter disregard of this nation’s laws.
Although it has not been declared, we are living under martial law and this administrations interpretation of the 'war powers act' have put the citizens of this country in such a perilous predicament that it is against the law to demonstrate and demand the return of out rights that have been guaranteed by the constitution and usurped by this administration with the complicity of congress. I am much more afraid of our government than any terrorists.

Any, impartial, student of history recognizes that the similarities of what happened in Germany under Hitler and what is happening in this country right now are by design.

We can take a lesson from the recent bravery that the lawyers in Pakistan have shown the world by their willingness to be beaten and arrested when they believe that their Constitution has been violated!!

Unfortunately, our judiciary branch cannot even be trusted to call torture, torture!

To abandon this obligation is to condone treason or other high crimes etc. and therefore become a party to these crimes.

[ChristinDemocrat]

I met Chris Dodd and you know he is on tuff man. Anyone who doubts the Democrats resolve to kick the REpugs ass for illegal action hasn't met Chris Dodd. I believe a Commission needs to be appointed when Hilary, Edwards, Obama win to reserch the extent of Bush Cheney Frisk, and the whole sorted affair the Republican Party as whole actions over all the issues of the last 7 years.

The next group will be 10 times worse if we don't.

[factanonverba]

I appreciate Senator Dodd's call but at the same time we have known this for years. At what point, does impeachment come off the table? To knowingly out a CIA agent is a crime, if not treason. And to do this for political purposes should be impeachable. If the Republicans are going to play this sort of politics then nothing is beyond them. If the Democratic Party wants to have some future, I would hope that they understand what leadership actually entails.

[JackNasty]

The Senate Democrats' year of enabling of President Bush's ongoing assault on our Constitution is helping to suck the life out of our once great nation.

Investigate the crimes of the President and his gang, now! Please do not back down again!

[realitytrumpsbull]

Impeach!

http://www.impeachbush.org

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