Mr. Bush, Tear Down That Stone Wall; Daily Update from the Democratic National Commit

Mon Oct 17,12:07 PM ET

Contact: Karen Finney of the
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A daily service of the DNC, "Mr. Bush, Tear Down That Stone Wall!" will highlight a specific fact that has been revealed and what Americans deserve to know about the White House's involvement in the improper and possibly illegal disclosure of an undercover CIA agent's identity for political gain.


WHAT'S BEEN UNCOVERED


Investigators Now Focused on Cheney. "A special counsel is focusing on whether Vice President Dick Cheney played a role in leaking a covert CIA agent's name, according to people familiar with the probe that already threatens top White House aides Karl Rove and Lewis Libby. The special counsel, Patrick Fitzgerald, has questioned current and former officials of President George W. Bush's administration about whether Cheney was involved in an effort to discredit the agent's husband, Iraq war critic and former U.S. diplomat Joseph Wilson, according to the people." (Bloomberg, 10/17/05)


Fitzgerald Questioned Wilkinson; 8 of 9 Members of the White House Iraq Group (WHIG) Have Now Appeared Before the Grand Jury. Fitzgerald also questioned ex-White House aide and former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Jim Wilkinson, "about the vice president's knowledge of the anti-Wilson campaign and his dealings on it with Libby, his chief of staff." Wilkinson is the eighth of nine members of the White House Iraq Group (WHIG) who has been questioned by the special prosecutor about the leaking of a covert CIA agent's identity and a broader effort by the Bush White House to discredit opponents of the war in Iraq. (Bloomberg, 10/17/05)


Rove Becoming Liability; Rove Cancelled Appearance at Virginia Fundraiser the Day After His Appearance Before Grand Jury. Presidential advisor Karl Rove cancelled his appearance before a Fairfax County Republican Committee breakfast this past Saturday, only one day after appearing for the fourth time before a grand jury investigating the leaking of the identity of a covert CIA agent. Replacing Rove was RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman who addressed the audience at the Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner, VA. (Washington Post, 10/17/05)


WHAT AMERICANS DESERVE TO KNOW


What role did Vice President Cheney play in the conspiracy to out Plame and discredit Administration critics? Did Libby, Rove or other WHIG members tell Bush or Cheney their plans for dealing with Wilson's criticisms? When will President Bush keep his promise to hold Rove and Libby accountable for their actions?


95 DAYS -- Since The American Public Learned That A White House Official With Security Clearance Leaked The Identity Of A Covert CIA Operative.


To read more about the improper and possibly illegal outing of Valerie Plame's identity, including previous "Stonewall" releases, go to: http://www.democrats.org/a/national/..._leak_scandal/


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