Valeria and Joseph Wilson Issue Statement on Karl Rove's Newest Valerie Plame Wilson Leak Denial

Valerie and Joseph Wilson issued the following statement today:

"In a December 7th interview discussing his upcoming tell-all book with Cox News, Karl Rove asserted that it was Richard Armitage, not he, who was responsible for the betrayal of CIA covert officer Valerie Plame Wilson. As usual, he shades the truth.

On July 17, 2005, Matthew Cooper, then of Time magazine, wrote that on July 11, 2003, Mr. Rove told him "[Ms. Wilson] worked at the 'agency'," and by that, he told the Grand Jury investigating the Wilson leak, he "inferred that [Mr. Rove] obviously meant the CIA and not, say, the Environmental Protection Agency." Cooper continued, "Mr. Rove added that she worked on 'WMD' issues and that she was responsible for sending [Ambassador] Wilson."

This was three days before the publication of Robert Novak's infamous article. Mr. Novak himself later confirmed that Mr. Rove was his second source, again before the publication of the article. Irrespective of Mr. Armitage's role in Ms. Wilson's betrayal, it is irrefutable that Mr. Rove was also independently leaking her name to members of the press prior to publication of Mr. Novak's article. He is also responsible for her betrayal.

We would welcome Mr. Rove's authorizing the release of his interviews with Special Counsel Fitzgerald and his testimony before the Grand Jury. The public deserves the whole truth of Mr. Rove's involvement. President Bush once said he regretted Mr. Rove's lack of candor. So do we."