Dems Jump On Libby Intel Leak

Democratic Congresswoman Calls President 'The Leaker-In-Chief'

(CBS/AP)  The most recent instance of denouncing the practice is the administration's launching of a probe into who disclosed to The New York Times the existence of the warrantless domestic surveillance program.

The green light Libby claims he was given led to a July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller. In that meeting, Libby made reference to the fact that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA.

Cheney, in conversation with Libby, raised the question of whether a CIA-sponsored trip by Wilson "was legitimate or whether it was in effect a junket set up by Mr. Wilson's wife."

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House would have no comment on the ongoing investigation. At a congressional hearing, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said the president has the "inherent authority to decide who should have classified information."

Libby is asking for voluminous amounts of classified information from the government in order to defend himself against five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI in the Plame affair.

He is accused of making false statements about how he learned of Plame's CIA employment and what he told reporters about it.