Plame Sues Armitage (Wizbang)

Valerie Plame sued Richard Armitage today over his role in her whole super duper secret spy non-outing.

One-time covert CIA officer Valerie Plame on Wednesday sued the former No. 2 official at the State Department for violating her privacy rights.

The suit does not accuse Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary of state in the Bush administration, of participating in an administration conspiracy to blow her cover.

Plame added Armitage's name to a civil suit in U.S. District Court against Vice President Dick Cheney, his former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and White House adviser Karl Rove.

Plame and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, say the White House leaked Plame's identity as retribution for Wilson's criticisms of prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Armitage admitted last week that he told two reporters in 2003 that Plame worked for the CIA, but he said the disclosure was inadvertent. Armitage said he knew of no plan to leak Plame's identity; some people said that admission disproved the conspiracy theory.

By adding Armitage's name to the suit, Plame's lawyers set up a different scenario. They contend a White House conspiracy existed, but that Armitage's leak was independent of it.

I will be surprised if this goes to trial, due to all the questions Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame will be required to answer in discovery alone. It might also get a bit difficult if the Wilsons have to change their fantasy scenario again, as they have already had to do to fit the Armitage leak into their story. In this case, though, anything could happen. If it does go to trial we should at least get one heck of a show.

Comments (16)

Ann Coulter covered the who... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by bullwinkle | September 13, 2006 10:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

bullwinkle:

Ann Coulter covered the whole thing with one sentence:

How covert was Valerie Plame at the CIA? Her top-secret code name was "Valerie Plame."

It'll be a miracle if they go to trial but it'll sure provide some good material for bloggers if it does.

Posted on September 13, 2006 22:02

I can't wait to see Karl Ro... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Capitalist Infidel | September 13, 2006 10:11 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Capitalist Infidel:

I can't wait to see Karl Roves countersuit. Talk about a sure winner

Posted on September 13, 2006 22:11

A conspiracy existed, but t... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Imhotep | September 13, 2006 10:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Imhotep:

A conspiracy existed, but the outing was independent of it. Ha!
That's like saying Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman, but a conspiracy existed, only Oswald beat the other conspirators to it.

If you believe that drivel, adjust your tinfoil hat for new communiques.

Idiots.

Posted on September 13, 2006 22:18

How come she hasn't sued Co... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Hermie | September 13, 2006 10:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hermie:

How come she hasn't sued Colin Powell?

He knew that Armitage spoke to Novak, so why isn't he part of the 'conspiracy' or 'outing'?

Posted on September 13, 2006 22:35

That's like saying Lee H... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Clay | September 13, 2006 11:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Clay:

That's like saying Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman, but a conspiracy existed, only Oswald beat the other conspirators to it.

Do all libs have Tourette's? Just curious.

Posted on September 13, 2006 23:07

Armitage, Powell, Magovern ... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by jainphx | September 13, 2006 11:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

jainphx:

Armitage, Powell, Magovern the CIA agents at VIP, all a pack of traitors.This plot thankfully fell through,unlike plots in the past.Bush could and should do America a favor and clean out the State Dept,and the left over leftest at the CIA assoon as possible.

Posted on September 13, 2006 23:08

Pathetic, isn't it?<p... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by COgirl | September 13, 2006 11:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

COgirl:

Pathetic, isn't it?

Methinks the Wilsons need to get day jobs and earn a real living like the rest of us do.

Posted on September 13, 2006 23:56

<a href="http://www.cheesea... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Dave | September 14, 2006 12:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Dave:

http://www.cheeseandbacon.net/mt/archives/2006/09/plame_suing_arm.html

Posted on September 14, 2006 00:46

Not only do they have to gi... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by stan25 | September 14, 2006 12:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

stan25:

Not only do they have to give the defense all of their evidence in the discovery process, in a case like this, but there will also there will have to be depositions given. These are like a mini grand jury, where each side has to answer questions before a judge and is transcribed by a court reporter. In some cases, there is also a video record. All of this is subject to the perjury laws, as one former president found out about the hard way. This could get very interesting even before the trial even begins

Posted on September 14, 2006 00:47

Yes, let us not forget that... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Dave | September 14, 2006 1:21 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Yes, let us not forget that the Plame/Wilson's have not even had to talk to a grand jury, nor even testify. Somewhat curious conidering the Fitzgerald investigation was completely centered around those two, yet never questioned them once.

Now that they have pressed the issue, Mr. Wilson will have no choice but to tell the truth (which he could't do, as evidenced by the senate intelligence comittee) or face perjury charges. I think he is in a tight spot here, unless the criminalization of conservatives holds true here and ultimately lets Joe Wilson walk free since liberals don't get in trouble for their crimes, only conservatives do.

Posted on September 14, 2006 01:21

At some point Valerie might... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by barrydauphin | September 14, 2006 1:25 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

barrydauphin:

At some point Valerie might realize that the person she needs to sue is Joe.

Posted on September 14, 2006 01:25

IANAL, but it seems to me, ... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by kbiel | September 14, 2006 2:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

kbiel:

IANAL, but it seems to me, in my lay opinion, that this is probably a pre-emptive measure to keep the court from issuing a dismissal. Adding the person who actually confessed to the act keeps the case alive and keeps Cheney, Libby and Rove in the news.

Posted on September 14, 2006 02:26

I agree with kebil... the d... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by DoninFla | September 14, 2006 5:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

DoninFla:

I agree with kebil... the dems are using this as foder to keep Cheney, Libby, Rove et al. in the news and in a bad light as long as possible or at least thru the mid terms. Look for the suit to be dropped if the dems win the house. If not, they'll use any and all efforts possible to keep Republicans in as bad a light as possible, for as long as possible.

Posted on September 14, 2006 05:51

The reason for this was...<... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Mike | September 14, 2006 7:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mike:

The reason for this was...

it prevents interviewers from asking the question: "If Armitage has admitted that his was the leaker, why are you only suing Rove, Libby, and Cheney?"

She better hurry up and get that book inked before he story completely unravels and the rational public sees who she and Joe actually are.

Posted on September 14, 2006 07:27

She amd Joe are a couple of... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by 914 | September 14, 2006 9:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

914:

She amd Joe are a couple of moneygrubbing liars.

Posted on September 14, 2006 09:31

Plame and Wilson filing civ... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by DDT | September 14, 2006 11:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

DDT:

Plame and Wilson filing civil suit? That's so Fred Goldman..

Posted on September 14, 2006 11:29