Plame sues, accusing CIA of blocking her memoirs

[Neil D]

By Matt Apuzzo

Associated Press

Published June 1, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Valerie Plame, the former undercover CIA operative whose 2003 exposure touched off a leak investigation, is accusing the government of delaying publication of her new book.

Plame and her publisher, Simon & Schuster, sued the CIA in a New York federal court Thursday. They accused the government of illegally refusing to let Plame write about the specific dates she worked for the agency.

The CIA, which has acknowledged only that Plame worked for the agency since 2002, must approve all writings of former officers before they can be published.

"The sole benchmark is whether it contains classified information," CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield said. "The concern is that publication of the manuscript as submitted would cause additional damage to operations and would affect the CIA's ability to conduct intelligence activities in the future."

Plame contends in court documents that the CIA released information about her work history in an unclassified letter about her retirement benefits. The letter, which the CIA says was sent inadvertently, was ultimately entered into the Congressional Record and says that Plame worked at the CIA for more than 20 years.

The lawsuit was announced on the eve of the annual trade convention BookExpo America, when publishers often try to release big news. The book deal for Plame's memoir, "Fair Game," is widely believed to be worth seven figures.

Nobody was charged with leaking Plame's employment status. Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted of obstructing the investigation in March and is to be sentenced Tuesday. Libby is the highest-ranking White House official convicted since the Iran-contra affair two decades ago.

Former White House and State Department officials and military commanders are supporting Libby as he asks a federal judge to spare him prison time.

Prosecutors want Libby to serve up to three years. But lawyers said Thursday that would be unfair and, citing numerous letters from Libby's former colleagues and friends, said the ex-aide deserved only probation.

"His dedication to promoting freedom abroad and keeping American citizens safe at home is beyond question," the attorneys wrote.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he received more than 150 letters and would make them public.

Libby's attorneys did not name the letter-writers in documents filed Thursday but said "they run the gamut" from four-star generals to law firm associates.