Investigations

The Valarie Plame affair poses an interesting incite to how the state department operates. Bush 43 was told by the British that Saddam Hussein had purchased uranium from Africa and Bush mentioned this as one of the reasons he felt that Hussein was trying to make a bomb. Valerie Plame worked for the government in various positions but was, on the side, a covert agent for the CIA. She recommended that her husband, a former diplomat, Joseph Wilson be sent to Africa to investigate the uranium story. Wilson then published an oped in the Times saying he could find no proof that the transfer of uranium took place. A week later the fact that his wife, Valarie Plame, was a covert CIA agent was leaked to columnist Robert Novak. It was reported that Scooter Libby, an adviser to VP Dick Chaney, leaked the information. Some surmised that Chaney did this to retaliate against Wilson. A special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, was appointed to investigate. As the prosecution got underway Richard Armitage in the State Department told Fitzgerald that he was the one who leaked the information on Plame to Novak. Fitzgerald told Armitage to keep quiet and he then proceeded with the case against Libby knowing Libby was innocent. Libby was finally tripped up in cross examination and lied and was convicted of lying. This is similar to what happened to Trump adviser Michael Flynn. Libby was later pardoned by Trump.