More coverage for Plame story

CBS News has now picked up on the Valerie Plame story. They have an article posted tonight that offers a basic overview of the situation, including the fact that the CIA's request to the Justice Department for an investigation.

The article, titled "A Vengeful White House?", while careful not to make an direct charges or allegations, certainly treats the idea that the White House may have leaked Ms. Plame's status as an undercover operative as a way of retaliating against her husband for having caused embarrassment when he wrote that the White House has been notified well before the State of the Union Address that the claim Saddam Hussein had sought uranium from Niger was false.

It was an embarrassing mistake when White House officials admitted that there was an inaccuracy in President Bush’s State of the Union address, but now, the fallout from that mistake could lead to criminal charges, CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston reports.

[...]

Revealing the names of CIA operatives is a felony, and the CIA has asked the Justice Department to begin a probe, Pinkston reports.

Congressional sources say there may also be calls for the appointment of an independent investigation to determine if Bush administration officials blew Plame’s cover.

Time Magazine has also picked up the story, and is noting that Justice has opened a preliminary inquiry:

CIA and Justice spokespersons declined comment, but an Administration official told TIME that the Justice is conducting a preliminary inquiry to "determine whether or not there should be an investigation" by the FBI.

Also of interest is Mark Kleiman's assessment of what is likely to happen as a result of the CIA's request - especially given how many are skeptical that Ashcroft may try to bury the investigation in order to protect the White House.

Formally, as Josh Marshall notes [*], Ashcroft has to make a decision whether to refer the matter to the FBI for investigation. But if he tries to refuse, he will face a firestorm, internally as well as externally. Six months or a year ago, with Bush riding high, Ashcroft might have been able to get away with it. But not now.

[...]

Once Ashcroft asks for an investigation, it gets carried out by career people in the FBI, people with reputations to protect. Someone will ask Rove the straight-up question whether he ever talked to Novak or anyone else about Plame, and whether he knows of anyone else having done so. When Rove answers those questions, he will know that lying to the Bureau is itself a federal crime. He will also know that the press shield laws may not apply in this case, and that reporters who refused the bait may not feel as bound to protect their sources as Novak does.

Wilson's stated ambition to "see Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs" no longer seems out of reach.