Ho-Hum

The White House broke the law.

Dr. James Knodell, director of the Office of Security at the White House, revealed today that to his knowledge the White House has never ordered a probe, report, or sanctions as a result of the outing of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame. “I have no knowledge of any investigation in my office,” he said.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said he was “shocked” by Knodell’s testimony, adding that the White House’s lack of action was a “breach on top of a breach.”

Watch the exchange here:



Never mind that Bush claimed, OJ-like, that he would get to the bottom of the Plame case and find the real leakers. There's a specific executive order that should trigger an investigation any time there is any breach of security clearance. The White House just didn't do it. They didn't bother. Because they didn't care about Valerie Plame, didn't care about CIA officers having their career ruined, didn't care about normal governmental procedures. Because they have contempt for government.

Incidentally, this was missing from most of the news accounts of the Plame hearing, despite the fact that it was the biggest bombshell.

Rep. Waxman also wants a word with Condi Rice. Man, does control of Congressional committees matter, or what?