WASHINGTON, July 19, 2007

Valerie Plame's Lawsuit Dismissed

Former CIA Operative Sued Members Of Bush Admininstration Over Identity Leak

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  • Former CIA analyst Valerie Plame testifies on Capitol Hill on March 16, 2007. Her lawsuit against members of the Bush administration for leaking her identity was thrown out on July 19, 2007. Photo

    Former CIA analyst Valerie Plame testifies on Capitol Hill on March 16, 2007. Her lawsuit against members of the Bush administration for leaking her identity was thrown out on July 19, 2007.  (AP Photo)

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(CBS/AP)  A federal judge on Thursday dismissed former CIA operative Valerie Plame's lawsuit against members of the Bush administration in the CIA leak scandal.

Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to leak her identity in 2003. Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds and said he would not express an opinion on the constitutional arguments. Bates dismissed the case against all defendants: Cheney, White House political adviser Karl Rove, former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Plame's attorney, Erwin Chemerinsky, says they will appeal, CBS News reports.

CBS News has learned that Judge Bates, who was was appointed by President Bush, has ruled in favor of the Vice President before. In 2002, Bates dismissed a case filed by the General Accounting Office seeking information about the Cheney Energy Task Force meetings.

Plame's attorneys had said the lawsuit would be an uphill battle.

"Today's decision is just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle and we are committed to seeing this case through," Amb. Wilson said in a statement.

Public officials are normally immune from such lawsuits filed in connection with their jobs.

Plame's identity was revealed in a syndicated newspaper column in 2003, shortly after Wilson began criticizing the administration's march to war in Iraq. Plame believes the leak was retribution and that it violated their constitutional rights.

Armitage and Rove were the sources for that article, which touched off a lengthy leak investigation. Nobody was charged with leaking, but Libby was later convicted of lying and obstruction the investigation. President Bush commuted Libby's 2½-year prison term before the former aide served any time.

A message seeking comment was left with Chemerinsky.



© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 293 Comments
by bluestardad July 19, 2007 3:37 PM PDT
THEY CRIMINALS ARE GOING TO GET AWAY SCOTT FREE!
Reply to this comment
by us18988 July 19, 2007 3:38 PM PDT
Ha Ha Ha.

Now, its time to go back to doing what you do best, little girl Valerie.

Either being a glorified secretary with a fat blowhard lefty anal retentive hubby, or working the hotels, which if you had a brain and were married to that kind of pig, is exactly what you would do.

Hasta lumbago, bimbo.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 3:38 PM PDT
"Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration."

But she didn't say it was against the law because she was covert. Nicole's parents sued O.J. and won......why would she not sue for 'outing' identity to the world? The PLAME game.....bogus from day 1.


Reply to this comment
by donnie900 July 19, 2007 3:38 PM PDT
Ya but, bin laden was in construction. Not energy.
Reply to this comment
by canyoutellme-2009 July 19, 2007 3:43 PM PDT
Interesting... Judge Bates - same judge who dismissed a lawsuit brought by the GAO looking for records of Cheney's Energy Task force is also the same person who dismissed a lawsuit against Cheney based on "jurisdictional" reasons? Excuse me?

NOTE: he would NOT comment on the constitutionality of the case... probably because it IS constitutional and he didn't want to face retribution from his republican cohorts.

Man, this stinks to high heaven. Why did it end up with Judge Bates anyway? He should have RECUSED himself as he's obviously another Cheney cronie.

Valerie, keep up the pressure.
Reply to this comment
by tejasdemo July 19, 2007 3:45 PM PDT
Republicans are crooks. Period. C'mon 2008.
Reply to this comment
by canyoutellme-2009 July 19, 2007 3:46 PM PDT
So, what do you end up with when a criminal in office appoints his own judges who end up presiding against his own cases? You get an administration that can do ANY illegal thing it wants... because no one will prosecute! Well, you'll have prosecutors, but the judges they go to will all just dismiss it.... the SUPREME court is Right Wing biased to the extreme now that it doesn't matter WHAT the people want... these guys are all shills for eachother. What we have now is a lawless society of sociopaths who believe they're above the law. The fact is, they are NOW above the law. Period.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 3:47 PM PDT
Hey, what the hell happened? I mean I was listening to donnie900 singing the chorus line, boy he really let out a belt with that Feelings song and the next thing i knew I ended up here and this isn't the only place.
Reply to this comment
by jntlw-2009 July 19, 2007 3:47 PM PDT
The judges ruling without any explanation is outrageous. Proof that this administration is run by Satan himself and his cronies. They have no shame and the overtly supress the law, break the law, and rewrite the laws as they wish. Folks the neocons are pure evil and they have taken over our country. Fight them on every front you can think of!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by donnie900 July 19, 2007 3:48 PM PDT
Someone probably got my password. Its real easy.
Reply to this comment
by pepperp1 July 19, 2007 3:50 PM PDT
A GOP partisan in robes? Wheweee 18 months is to long. Congressman Waxman time to have those follow hearings and invite the judge.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 3:50 PM PDT
Like I said Bush and Gonzo got rid of all the impartial, unbiased judges. Sure every court decision is going to go the Bush administrations way. If it doesnt he will just fire another judge and appoint a new one that will rule in his favor.

If anyone was convicted Bush would just commute their sentence or pardon them.
Posted by fedupwithit1

How'd he do that. I mean don't they get appointed by them committees which is why Southwick is going nowhere?
Reply to this comment
by jntlw-2009 July 19, 2007 3:51 PM PDT
I would like to hear a lawyer give their take on this ruling with no explanation. Please make a comment.
Reply to this comment
by donnie900 July 19, 2007 3:52 PM PDT
Is there a lawyer in the house?
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 3:53 PM PDT
Man that chick looks diseased. After living with Wilson, I'm not surprised.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 3:53 PM PDT
How'd he do that. I mean don't they get appointed by them committees which is why Southwick is going nowhere?
Posted by mudrose at 03:50 PM : Jul 19, 2007

You knew this was coming, didn't you? I mean, Bush & Cheney, the two dimmist bulbs on the planet, have managed to outwit libs with intelligence far beyond that of mortal men? How could this be? :)
Reply to this comment
by jntlw-2009 July 19, 2007 3:54 PM PDT
Pure evil!Pure evil!Pure evil!Pure evil! - Neocons - watch out, its war!
Reply to this comment
by us18988 July 19, 2007 3:55 PM PDT
ICANTELLYOU,

You libs are such a bunch of crybabies, not to mention gutless wonders who never practice what you preach.

You claim to "support the troops" yet every Democratic Presidential candidate has never served a day in our Armed Forces. You wish us to surrender to Al Qaeda, yet none of you are willing to share the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.

You've been this way since 1968, if not before. Always the same blame America routine, except ever since Carter and Clinton it has gotten worse.

Jail time for a patriot, Mr. Libby - but god help it if one of yours does a criminal act.
YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE - heck, I can provide a litany - full of faces and reality checks of what your Deans, Pelosis, Reids, Obamas, Clintons, Carters, Kennedys and others have done to this country - and it has never been for the good.

You want to talk criminals - let's talk Ted Kennedy, KKK Byrd, Pervert Bill, and Jimmeee the Jew-baiter Carter... Still want to talk about criminals???
Reply to this comment
by truthspeake2 July 19, 2007 3:56 PM PDT
The Revolution WILL be televised!
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 3:57 PM PDT
Satan himself and his cronies. Posted by jntlw at 03:47 PM : Jul 19, 2007

The devout athiest believes in SATAN? Tell me it ain't so!! ROFL!!! Go home, Valerie! Write a book or something. LOL
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 4:00 PM PDT
The Revolution WILL be televised!
Posted by truthspeake2 at 03:56 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Yeah...when all 3 of you show up on the street corner, CNN will no doubt be there to report 3,000. Viva la revolucion!!!! :)
Reply to this comment
by name_verify July 19, 2007 4:00 PM PDT
-----

1-800-HELP-SCOOTER

CALL DONATE SUPPORT THE SCOOTER LIBBY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

-----
Reply to this comment
by us18988 July 19, 2007 4:00 PM PDT
Mudrose,

Re: chick looking diseased...

man, thank you so much - that's so hysterically funny. If you think that this glorified sec who sleeps with pigs looks bad, take a look at Pelosi, who needs her botox treatments to keep her face from sagging.

Or better yet, that other paragon of American womenhood. Hillary Rotten Clinton. If she even slept with Bill once - it would explain a lot about her looks too. Ooops, but she looked that way before she met Boy Pervert.

Ship em' all - Bimbo Val, Pig Wilson, those darling Clitons and Pelosi off to Iraq.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 4:01 PM PDT
U.S. District Judge John D. Bates dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds and said he would not express an opinion on the constitutional arguments. Bates dismissed the case against all defendants: Cheney, White House political adviser Karl Rove, former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

The court can dismiss a case on subject or personal grounds. Subject meaning doesn't have jurisdiction over the subject matter or personal meaning you will have to initiate a suit where you live. It doesn't mean the case is over. It just means the court may not have jurisdiction over the person or subject matter. Best I can do. Judges usualy render an open but they don't have to. In any event all this means the suit is not over.
Reply to this comment
by pepperp1 July 19, 2007 4:03 PM PDT
"The alleged means by which defendants chose to rebut Mr. Wilson's comments and attack his credibility may have been highly unsavory, " Bates wrote.
"But there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism, such as that levied by Mr. Wilson against the Bush administration's handling of prewar foreign intelligence, by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants' duties as high-level Executive Branch officials."


Unsavory indeed, yes judge, particularly your comment in part ii here, bone head poodle, corrupt partisan in robes, yuck.........



Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 4:05 PM PDT
You knew this was coming, didn't you? I mean, Bush & Cheney, the two dimmist bulbs on the planet, have managed to outwit libs with intelligence far beyond that of mortal men? How could this be? :)
Posted by infidel_us

You should know by now we live in a magic kingdom. They will take it away from us because they resent how good it is to live in the magic kingdom and they can't create it so they veil it in street terms like poverty, lies, judges in their back pockets.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign July 19, 2007 4:05 PM PDT
I believe old Joe has a more Ballz than anyone on this thread.

Under President George H.W.Bush

From 1988 to 1991, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In the wake of Iraq's 1990 Invasion of Kuwait, he became the last American diplomat to meet with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, telling him in very clear terms to "get out of Kuwait". When Hussein sent a note to Wilson (along with other embassy heads in Baghdad) threatening to execute anyone sheltering foreigners in Iraq, Wilson publicly repudiated the dictator by appearing at a press conference wearing a homemade noose around his neck, and declaring, "If the choice is to allow American citizens to be taken hostage or to be executed, I will bring my own f_u_c_k_i_n_g rope."
Despite Hussein's threats, Wilson sheltered more than one hundred Americans at the embassy, and successfully evacuated several thousand people (Americans and other nationals) from the country.
Reply to this comment
by name_verify July 19, 2007 4:09 PM PDT
Valerie Plame Wilson = Traitor
Reply to this comment
by tomar0317 July 19, 2007 4:11 PM PDT
Bates, a federal judge. Recent firings of federal judges...hmmmm, appointed by repubs, hmmmmm. Me thinks the judge is on the take. He should also be fired w/o benefits!
Reply to this comment
by jetranger7 July 19, 2007 4:12 PM PDT
MESSAGE TO:US18988 - You sure Spew the Rhetoric, but you too are a Typical Republican Neo-Con Facist Idiot ! Talk Criminals huh ? Well lets Start with GH Bush Sr. and Oliver North, Poindexter, General Richard Secord,Defense Sec. Cheney. other wise known as "The Iran-Contra Affair"! Ohh you weren't going to tell anybody about your Republican Morans involved in that Fiasco, you hoped they'd forget about that. Typical Arrogrant Repulsive Neo-Con Degenerate Corrupt Fraudulent "Republican" Azz-wipe! Your so full of yourself and spew lies and Rhetoric,your Pathetic ! Anybody else intersteaded: WWW.ALMARTINRAW.COM // WWW.INFOWARS.COM
Reply to this comment
by soldat44 July 19, 2007 4:12 PM PDT
I believe old Joe has a more Ballz than anyone on this thread.

Under President George H.W.Bush

From 1988 to 1991, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In the wake of Iraq's 1990 Invasion of Kuwait, he became the last American diplomat to meet with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, telling him in very clear terms to "get out of Kuwait". When Hussein sent a note to Wilson (along with other embassy heads in Baghdad) threatening to execute anyone sheltering foreigners in Iraq, Wilson publicly repudiated the dictator by appearing at a press conference wearing a homemade noose around his neck, and declaring, "If the choice is to allow American citizens to be taken hostage or to be executed, I will bring my own f_u_c_k_i_n_g rope."
Despite Hussein's threats, Wilson sheltered more than one hundred Americans at the embassy, and successfully evacuated several thousand people (Americans and other nationals) from the country.
Posted by IOWEIGN at 04:05 PM : Jul 19, 2007

+1
Reply to this comment
by taddles-2009 July 19, 2007 4:13 PM PDT
"Still want to talk about criminals???
Posted by US18988 at 03:55 PM : Jul 19, 2007"

Wow, they let the clown school out early today.
Reply to this comment
by randalds July 19, 2007 4:13 PM PDT
"Today Bates dismissed the Plame case on jurisdictional grounds and said he would not express an opinion on the constitutional arguments."

Posted by jh6379 at 04:10 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Which means she's free to re-file the lawsuit after getting passed this technicality. No problem, just a bump in the road.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 4:14 PM PDT
mudrose,

Speaking of the "magic kingdom":

C-SPAN

"Sen. John Kerry said during a C-Span appearance that fears of a bloodbath after the US withdrawal from Vietnam never materialized. He says he's met survivors of the "reeducation camps" who are thriving in modern Vietnam. An award-winning investigation by the Orange County Register concludes that at least 165,000 people perished in the camps."

This nitwit came within a hair of being president!
Reply to this comment
by down-ndirty July 19, 2007 4:15 PM PDT
For his efforts in Iraq, Wilson "... was praised by President George H. W. Bush for his actions: '...when I arrived back in Washington on January 13, 1991, the very next day I was in the Oval Office ... The President introduced me to his War Cabinet as a true American hero.'"

Reply to this comment
by soldat44 July 19, 2007 4:15 PM PDT
Valerie Plame Wilson = Traitor
Posted by screen_name_ at 04:09 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Why? Explain your reasoning using facts and common sense please.
Reply to this comment
by terrapin78 July 19, 2007 4:18 PM PDT
Valerie Plame Wilson = Traitor
Posted by screen_name_ at 04:09 PM : Jul 19, 2007

So screen_name_

How have YOU SERVED the US?

In no way, I venture to guess.

Reply to this comment
by torocaca July 19, 2007 4:20 PM PDT
Valerie Plame Wilson = Traitor
Posted by screen_name_ at 04:09 PM : Jul 19, 2007

Why? Explain your reasoning using facts and common sense please.
Posted by soldat44 at 04:15 PM : Jul 19, 2007
__________________________

Ha! You beat me to the punch, soldat44.

screen_name can't explain or use reasoning. He/she can only jump in like a troll, do his/her name calling, and then run like hell.

The traitors are the people who betrayed her identity, including Rove, Armitage, and journalist Novak.

Reply to this comment
by randalds July 19, 2007 4:24 PM PDT
So screen_name_

How have YOU SERVED the US?

In no way, I venture to guess.


Posted by Terrapin78 at 04:18 PM : Jul 19, 2007

My guess is that he/she/it has only been a sideline war cheerleader, just like Bush was in prep school and in the Texas ANG. Those that have balls serve, those that don't and are gutless cowards send others off to die and cheer on the sidelines.
Reply to this comment
by irishmail42 July 19, 2007 4:24 PM PDT
To screen_name_ at:

Valerie Plame is a traitor? Excuse me! What did she do other than have her CIA cover exposed? The %u201Ctraitors%u201D, your word, is the group of incompetents running this administration. If you%u2019re under 30 you may live long enough to read an unbiased history of this sorry episode in our nation.
Reply to this comment
by torocaca July 19, 2007 4:25 PM PDT
"Sen. John Kerry said during a C-Span appearance that fears of a bloodbath after the US withdrawal ..." This nitwit came within a hair of being president! Posted by infidel_us at 04:14 PM : Jul 19, 2007
___________________________

What about the "nitwits" in office now who said Iraq would be a "cakewalk" and who are now saying it would be disaster if we pulled out.

What should we believe? Cakewalk or disaster? LOL!!!

It obviously wasn't a cakewalk, so why should we believe it would be a disaster if we leave?

Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 4:25 PM PDT
United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Bates graduated from Wesleyan University in 1968 and received a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976. From 1968 to 1971, he served in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam. Judge Bates clerked for Judge Roszel C. Thomsen of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland from 1976 to 1977 and was an associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1977 to 1980. He served as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Columbia from 1980 to 1997. Prior to his appointment to the United States District Court in 2001, Judge Bates served as deputy independent counsel for the Whitewater investigation and then joined the Washington law firm of Miller & Chevalier.

Yeah, the guy's in someone's pocket. Spin away.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 July 19, 2007 4:30 PM PDT
This nitwit came within a hair of being president!

Posted by infidel_us

In retrospect, he looks better than what they are peddling now. Bumperstickers, Black magic and the old Socialist hag. Don't get me wrong, wouldn't wish him on a gnat, but things were brighter then than now.
Reply to this comment
by tnt1954 July 19, 2007 4:31 PM PDT
odd how God, whose representative on earth
is the Pope is always blamed for the behavior
of all his creations. i mean, gee whiz, God,
you created the devil yourself, isn't that
kinda dumb? what did ya do that for?
like business law, all employees of a business
or corporation can be held responsible for
not only their corporations behavior, but the
corporation can be sued for their behavior.
orders or no orders. thus the wisdom of
disobedience factor. if i had gone insane
at the helm of a starship i'd like to be questioned immediately before i did terrible
damage. thus court-martials of commanders
in chief and captains who are steering the
ship of state onto rocks. its the fiduciary
responsiblity of all citizens of any free
state, or slave state too. being in the
position for real is very difficult.
being a monday morning quarterback is very easy.
woulda coulda shoulda.
Reply to this comment
by us18988 July 19, 2007 4:31 PM PDT
JetRanger,

Better drop the last name. You'd never fit in in a million years.

Oliver North - Colonel North to you, friend, oops, I don't have friends in the Left Neo-Nazi fringe, graduated from Annapolis at the same time Jimmy Webb did. Care to call him a criminal? You're not even fit to shine North's boots, or Admiral Poindexter's either.

Maybe (you can shine the shoes of) your boyfriends KKK Byrd or Ahmedinejedad - or the Jew-hating Jimmys - Carter and Baker. They'd fit in with a moral and mental midget like yourself. But hey, that's reality - and you are nothing but a typical Fascist spewing MoveOn.Org fantasy island tripe.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 4:32 PM PDT
This is what I call a real PLAME-OUT! :)
Reply to this comment
by irishmail42 July 19, 2007 4:33 PM PDT
To Mudrose:

Fred Thompson also worked as a counsel on Watergate. His job? To feed committee information to Nixon. And your point is?
Reply to this comment
by donnie900 July 19, 2007 4:33 PM PDT
Well I'm siding with the foxy chick. The alternative is Rove.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us July 19, 2007 4:35 PM PDT
I wouldn't wish him on a gnat, but things were brighter then than now.
Posted by mudrose at 04:30 PM : Jul 19, 2007

He does have a certain "Lurch" like quality, doesn't he? Ah, the good old days. "Hey, can I get me a huntin' license around here?" ROFL....remember that one!!! The man is an absolute buffoon. I was actually disappointed that he wasn't going to run. :)
Reply to this comment
by donnie900 July 19, 2007 4:36 PM PDT
I had a dream about Thompson. I gave him a ride in my pickup truck and he stole it.
Reply to this comment
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