Plame Lawsuit Dismissed

The civil suit filed by Valerie and Joseph Wilson against Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and Richard Armitage was dismissed by a federal judge today. Ruling that the court lacked the jurisdiction to award damages for the disclosure of Valerie Wilson's covert identity, Judge John Bates made the curious argument that blowing the cover of an undercover CIA officer could be considered to fall within the job duties of an administration official. "The alleged means by which defendants chose to rebut Mr. Wilson's comments and attack his credibility may have been highly unsavory," he wrote. "But there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism... by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants' duties."

The Wilson's counsel, Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, is currently reviewing the decision and anticipates filing an appeal. After four years, Joe Wilson isn't about to back down. Here's what he had to say about the setback in a statement: "This case is not just about what top government officials did to Valerie and me. We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation. Today's decision is just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle and we are committed to seeing this case through."

Comments

I can't say that I'm a big fan of the democratic party either. I mostly think of them as being a lot less bad than the republicans, even though they helped to kill the party I really liked (liberal).

However, democrats.com sent a couple of links if you want to encourage impeachment proceedings for this and other actions of our vice president. I personally added text stating that I would like to see our president impeached as well.

Here are the links with a bit of their text around them if you're interested.

Tell your Representatives to support H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Cheney:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73

Tell the House Judiciary Committee and Speaker Pelosi to hold hearings on H.Res. 333:
http://www.democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary

Posted by: Misanthropic Scott on 07/20/07 at 4:50 AM Respond

I am for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. But impeach Cheney first. The sooner the better. I think they are putting this country in debt just so money can be made by cronies, Halliburton for one with no contract work in Iraq, overcharging the government, they don't worry about how indebted we are to other countries, My opinion is that Cheney and Bush had this all planned before Bush was voted President. Bush asked Cheney to look for someone to be a VP. Cheney chose himself for the the VP office as he couldn't find anyone else that wanted the job except himself, so it was said. They went into office with no deficit and money to spare from the Clinton Presidency and now What a WHOPPER of deficit they have on us now. The middle class will have to pay for it in taxes for years. Bush is the worst President ever and Cheney the worst VP ever. I support H.Res.333.

Posted by: Alfreda Rodgers on 07/20/07 at 2:43 PM Respond

Long after Bush has left politics his judicial appointees will continue to influence the rule -and misrule- of law in this country. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates is only one among hundreds of Bush appointees. Whereas the Supreme Court rules on a handful of cases each year, the District Courts rule on dozens each day. The Plame-Wilson case is neither the first nor the last that will succumb to tendentious judges.

See the following re Bates.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/321054/judge_who_dismissed_valerie_plames.html for background on Bates.

Posted by: MICHAEL on 07/21/07 at 8:20 AM Respond

Dear Judge Bates,
Congratulations on your eventual naming to the Supreme Court. You have set new legal precedent with your determination that treason is now a part of official government duties.

Posted by: thinkgra on 07/22/07 at 10:24 AM Respond