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

[hope4theflowers]

I believe Mr Dodd,that Dennis Kucinich already said all this.

[mamacat]

Dear Sen. Dodd,
thank you for taking the time to let us know what you are thinking.
Some of my thoughts:
it looks like Pres. Bush, the Commander in Chief, knowingly outed a covert CIA operation that was doing essential work on behalf of the American people. Because the CIA refused to fall in line with the political whims of the administration, by saying that the lies regarding Saddam were truth, Bush and the others around him felt they could do what they had been doing for years - use dirty tricks to get their way.
From my point of view what the Bush Cabal did was treason. I repeat, the President of the United States, the CinC, committed treason.
At the very least he should be impeached.

But then, maybe I am wrong, and what Bush did this time regarding the CIA network was just an honest mistake, like all the other honest mistakes he and Rove have made for the last 30 years.

[javagirl322]

Senator, isn't there something you can do? There American people want impeachment to begin...enough talk already.

[Not Blind]

I appreciate Dodd's and Ron Paul's remarks about the values of upholding international and Constitutional laws. I also agree with their positions about the Iraq war, which should end immediately.
Trouble is, the Congressional "representatives" are NOT representing their constituents (who voted last year to end the war), their states or this nation's best interests. They're representing themselves, and protecting their profits.
While they hail the spending appropriations for the war are to "support our troops," the military personnel have not had pay increases in years. Their benefits have been rolled back, and disability claims have been downgraded so injured veterans can't get treatment they need. Military personnel have their tours extended and time between tours reduced before redeployment. There's been a rollback of combat pay (hazardous duty) and housing allowances for service personnel (to their families). Troops are still being sent into battle with faulty or inadequate equipment. Injured troops are being billed for and must pay for any equipment lost or damaged, and now the Pentagon is making families of dead, or wounded veterans refund their signing bonuses because they did not complete their tours (because they were injured or killed). The Pentagon just awarded Halliburton a $72-million bonus, recently spent $1.6-trillion on new helicopters, cyborgs and other programs, which all turned out to be worthless (none work adequately or as they were supposed to).
STOP funding the war, if you're really sincere about seeing this waste, abuse, lying and injustice ending. SUPPORT HR-333 and begin impeachment hearings immediately, regardless of what Pelosi or anyone else says.

[white mende man]

fool me once shame on you fool me twice heh... i can fool them over and over again.

[Chris24Ruh]

Senator Dodd,

As has been noted here repeatedly, the time for rhetoric is at an end. It is time for the verb "talk" to be replaced by verbs such as "investigate," "indict" and "impeach." And this means that you and your colleagues MUST be undisuaded by the outrage from the right. Our country has been abused for seven long years and, as in any case of abuse, once the victim stands up and says "enough," the perpetrator does not meekly back down. The expected behavior will be indignation, justification and outrage at the actions of those daring to stand up and say "no." BUT YOU and all TRUE patriots - and those who at least seek to lead this country away from this abyss - MUST be willing to bear the brunt of the expected onslaught from the conservative media and simply get at it. If the Watergate scandal was approached with such tepid tredpidation your (my) party has thus far, Nixon might never have been stopped. If the roles were reversed, Republicans would have somebody's head on a plate already. GO AFTER THEM ALL and FOLLOW THIS WHEREVER IT LEADS. Who gives a damn that such action might turn off some swing voters? DO THE BIDDING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and return the government to We the People - NOW!

[choada777]

It was pretty obvious from day one (Save for the anomalous few with tin-foil fashion sense and a penchant for taste Kool-Aid) of what they had done. Why do more 'revelations' have to be made when the obvious is apparent.

[NorCalNative]

Senator Dodd, I support efforts to restore justice to the White House. The most offensive thing about this current administration is the level of overwhelming GREED. These war profiteers need to go to jail!

[MSB]

I'm so sick of these criminals getting away with their crimes in plain sight that I could puke. I though the democratic takeover would mean something and I was wrong.

Sen. Dodd. If you could play a big role in bringing down this regime, restoring our Constitution and helping those who are not rich, you would be my president.

Until then..... well I'm afraid I've already heard all the democratic tough talk I can stand. I'm sure more is getting said but the media is so completely corrupt it is difficult to hear. DO SOMETHING!

I'm sick of democrats saying impeachment is out because there is so much to do. News Flash - Bush will not allow this congress to do anything anyway!!! Impeachment is THE answer to getting the ball moving again. Why are we playing nice with the atrocious humans?

[jackstraw005]

for all the talk of impeachment and accountability, let me save you some trouble and tell you all exactly what is going to happen. see, right in that space is what will happen. the democrats dont have the balls to do anything but bluster, and the republicans dont have the character. it will be business as usual, with dana pinnichio issuing a vague denial. rudy will be our next lunatic in chief, and we will march on down the road to hell.

[sonofdy1]

AHHHH minor point, the source for this account now says that the president did not tell him to lie.

[Annoula]

Add this to the long list of lies, misleading statements, betrayals and criminal acts perpetrated by this mis-administration.
Now, Senator, if you really MEAN what you write, what do YOU plan to do about Kucinich's HR333? [A gentle reminder that it is thanks to the REPUBLICANS in the House that the resolution is still alive since the Democrats were too busy distancing themselves from it the minute it was brought to the floor.]
So, please tell me, Senator, what do YOU plan to do when the time comes for the Senate to vote on HR333 (a.k.a articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney)?
Vote against it like your fellow partisans?
Can't you see words don't mean anything any more????
We, the PEOPLE, are demanding ACTIONS.
That's what we voted for in '06.
ACTIONS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY!
If you don't vote to impeach, we, the voters, might just choose to stay home next November. And let the Republicans win!

[richsmith]

And the beat goes on. No mention of Dennis Kucinich here. He's the only one among the official prez contenders that doesn't need to go through this "I'm shocked", mock indignation nonsense. He's already proposed impeachment before the House. Let's see if that flies now.

[TheDriftingMind]

i just emailed Congressman Chris Van Hollen (my congressional representative in Maryland's 8th District) and Speaker Pelosi demanding an immediate investigation. I asked that Scott McClellan be put under oath and asked who knew what and when. Then I demanded that the house draft articles of impeachment against both Bush and Cheney immediately. I encourage everyone here to do the same. Flood this Congress with emails, don't stop until they grow a spine and do their job.

[Dvmx]

Have you enjoyed the last 7 years of abuse, America?
Because if you don't impeach them while you still can, there will be plenty more in store...