The right has been unusually excited about recent revelations from the Senate Intelligence Committee that allegedly call Joseph Wilson’s credibility into question. For his part, Wilson has very ably replied to each of the items in a detailed response to the panel, which Salon published online last week.
I’m inclined to believe Wilson’s account, but at the risk of sounding insensitive, I don’t really care. Republicans could have solid evidence that Wilson lies as often as Dick Cheney, but it wouldn’t change a simple and avoidable fact: White House officials leaked the name of an undercover CIA agent. It’s a felony, it put our national security at risk, and it’s currently the subject a White House criminal investigation that is too often overlooked.
Last week was the one-year anniversary of the Valerie Plame “outing.” All the key players — Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rove, etc. — have already spoken to federal investigators, but Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) marked the anniversary of the crime by arguing last week that Bush and Cheney weren’t under oath — but should have been.
“One year has passed. Perhaps the President and others have already told Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald who is responsible,” said Harkin. “If not, the President, and the Vice President, too, should be put under oath. They need to tell the American public who committed these acts.”
[…]
“One moment, Ms. Plame is considered a valuable human asset. The next moment, she is deemed expendable for political retribution,” said Harkin. “This was nothing more than a vicious act of political intimidation and revenge. Both President Bush and Vice President Cheney have an obligation as Constitutional officers to uphold the law and release the name or names of those individuals responsible.”
I’m glad someone hasn’t forgotten about this. Too bad there wasn’t a single news outlet in America — count ’em, zero — that picked up on Harkin’s statement.
By the way, the NYT reported yesterday that the Plame Game investigation may wrap up “in a matter of weeks,” at which time we’ll hear if any indictments are forthcoming. Stay tuned.