Serrano: Rove Is a National Security Risk and Should Be Fired

“Dignity and Credibility of Presidency At Stake; A Man Who Puts Partisan Politics Over Our National Security Does Not Belong in a Place of Public Trust”

Washington, DC, July 13, 2005—Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) issued the following statement calling for the firing of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and expressing his support for the investigation into Rove’s actions: 

“Too much evidence points to Rove’s having been the key source of this treacherous leak.  Rove’s continuing presence at the White House, so close to the Oval Office, is a stain on the dignity of the Presidency and an insult to our intelligence community.  His apparent involvement with this leak shows how desperate he was to suppress public debate over the Bush administration’s sham justification for war.  Someone who so blatantly puts partisan politics over the safety and effectiveness of our intelligence personnel does not belong in a place of public trust.

“The President told us that he would fire the White House staffer who had leaked Plame’s identity.  Mr. President, you need to keep your promise to the American people and extricate yourself from this increasingly damaging scandal.  The dignity and credibility of the Presidency is at stake and our ability to safeguard overseas assets and sensitive intelligence gathering methods is at risk.”