Valerie Plame all set to testify before Congress

Valerie Plame all set to testify before Congress
WASHINGTON - Former CIA officer Valerie Plame is all set to testify before a House committee detailing the incidents leading up to her exposure. Plame's identity was revealed after her husband Joe Wilson blasted the Bush administration for allegedly manipulating prewar intelligence to its advantage.

The House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform will hear next week how the White House dealt with the disclosure that Plame was a covert agent. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman said that they would examine whether the White House followed protocol in dealing with the incident.

Mr Waxman said that federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had also been invited to meet him, but it was unclear if this invite would be accepted. Fitzgerald recently won a conviction against Lewis "Scooter" Libby for his role in the case. Libby was the former chief of staff of Vice President Dick Cheney and appeared to have played a central role in the whole fracas.

In his letter to Fitzgerald, Mr Waxman said that one juror had expressed a view that Libby was a fall-guy for the administration. "This juror's views encapsulated questions that many in Congress and the public have about whether the ultimate responsibility for the outing of (Plame) rests with more senior officials in the White House," Waxman wrote. "Your perspective on these matters is important."

The hearing is due to take place on March 16.