7.16.2006
Couple Reiterate Claims They Were Punished (WashingtonPost.com)
By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 15, 2006; Page A02
Former U.S. ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV and his wife, former CIA officer Valerie Plame, said yesterday that Vice President Cheney, presidential adviser Karl Rove and other administration officials knowingly lied and abused their power to get revenge against the couple for criticizing President Bush's rationale for going to war in Iraq.
Plame's identity as a classified CIA officer was allegedly leaked to the media by top Bush administration officials. She and her husband filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court accusing Cheney, Rove, former top Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and other unnamed government officials of violating Plame's and Wilson's constitutional rights, invading their privacy, endangering their children and ruining their careers.
Plame, at a joint appearance with her husband at the National Press Club, said she would "much rather" be a CIA operative than a plaintiff in a lawsuit.
She said that she and Wilson, both of whom had worked in government for years, filed the suit with "heavy hearts." Wilson said the couple were under "no illusions about how tough this fight will be." But, he said, "the time has come to hold those who use their official positions to exact personal revenge accountable and responsible for their actions."
Although the appearance was billed as a news conference, the couple took no questions after reading prepared statements.
A Cheney spokeswoman yesterday declined to comment on the suit, citing a policy of not discussing litigation.
Legal analysts said they expect Cheney to argue that he is immune from the suit. But they also said that if a judge allows the litigation to proceed, the lawsuit could allow Plame and Wilson to demand documents from Cheney and others, and force the vice president to sit for a deposition.
(More ... Couple Reiterate Claims They Were Punished) ¶ 12:09
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 15, 2006; Page A02
Former U.S. ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV and his wife, former CIA officer Valerie Plame, said yesterday that Vice President Cheney, presidential adviser Karl Rove and other administration officials knowingly lied and abused their power to get revenge against the couple for criticizing President Bush's rationale for going to war in Iraq.
Plame's identity as a classified CIA officer was allegedly leaked to the media by top Bush administration officials. She and her husband filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court accusing Cheney, Rove, former top Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and other unnamed government officials of violating Plame's and Wilson's constitutional rights, invading their privacy, endangering their children and ruining their careers.
Plame, at a joint appearance with her husband at the National Press Club, said she would "much rather" be a CIA operative than a plaintiff in a lawsuit.
She said that she and Wilson, both of whom had worked in government for years, filed the suit with "heavy hearts." Wilson said the couple were under "no illusions about how tough this fight will be." But, he said, "the time has come to hold those who use their official positions to exact personal revenge accountable and responsible for their actions."
Although the appearance was billed as a news conference, the couple took no questions after reading prepared statements.
A Cheney spokeswoman yesterday declined to comment on the suit, citing a policy of not discussing litigation.
Legal analysts said they expect Cheney to argue that he is immune from the suit. But they also said that if a judge allows the litigation to proceed, the lawsuit could allow Plame and Wilson to demand documents from Cheney and others, and force the vice president to sit for a deposition.
(More ... Couple Reiterate Claims They Were Punished) ¶ 12:09
