Fri Feb 10 2012

Congressman John Conyers asks Karl Rove to resign
by John Conyers
October 8, 2003

Dear Mr. Rove:

  I write to ask you to resign from the White House staff. Recent press reports   have indicated that, while you may or may not have been the source of the Robert   Novak column which revealed the status and name of a covert operative, the wife   of Ambassador Joseph Wilson, you were involved in a subsequent effort to push   this classified information to other reporters and give it even wider currency.

  This itself may be a federal crime, but regardless of that fact, your actions   are morally indefensible.

  In my view, it is shameful and unethical that an Administration that promised to   govern with "honor and integrity" and "change the tone" in Washington has now   engaged in an orchestrated campaign to smear and intimidate truth-telling   critics, placing them in possible physical harm and impairing the efforts and   operations of the CIA.

  Recent reports indicate that you told the journalist, Chris Matthews, and   perhaps others, that Mr. Wilson's wife and her undercover status were "fair   game." Evan Thomas and Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, Oct. 13, 2003. Since these   initial allegations have arisen, neither the White House nor your office have   denied your involvement in furthering the leak.

  Repeated press inquiries into this matter have been rebuffed with technical   jargon and narrow legalisms, instead of broader ethical issues. Indeed, in the   same article it appears a White House source acknowledged that you contacted   Matthews and other journalists, indicating that "it was reasonable to discuss   who sent Wilson to Niger."

  It should be noted that these actions may well have violated 18 U.S.C. § 793,   which prohibits the willful or grossly negligent distribution of national   defense information that could possibly be used against the United States. The   law states that even if you lawfully knew of Mr. Wilson's wife's status, you were obliged to come forward and report the   press leak to the proper authorities - not inflame the situation by encouraging   further dissemination. 18 U.S.C. § 793(f). Larger than whether any one statute   can be read to find criminal responsibility is the issue of whether officials of   your stature will be allowed to use their influence to intimidate whistle-blowers.

  Over three decades ago, our nation was scarred by an Administration that would   stop at nothing to smear and intimidate its critics. I do not believe the Nation   will countenance a repeat of such activities. For your role in this campaign, I   would ask that you resign immediately.

  Sincerely,

  John Conyers, Jr.
  Ranking Minority Member

  cc: The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.   Chairman
  Committee on the Judiciary

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