WASHINGTON – Six Democratic lawmakers on Monday called for a congressional investigation into the leak of a CIA employee's name.
The Justice Department already is investigating who leaked the name of Valerie Plame (search) to syndicated columnist Robert Novak (search) in July. Her husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson (search), has said his wife's identity may have been disclosed to discredit his assertions that the Bush administration exaggerated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to build a case for war.
The Democrats, who also are senior members in Congress, asked Monday that the General Accounting Office (search) determine whether the White House followed proper security procedures for protecting Plame's identify.
They also asked the GAO, Congress's investigative arm, to look into whether the White House complied with requirements after her name was leaked to ensure that the security breach was investigated and that remedial action was taken.
The Democratic members seeking another investigation are: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California, presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, and Rep. John Conyers of Michigan.
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