Schlomo Here!

Let me start with the incontrovertible evidence that Rove broke the rules, his word and his non-disclosure agreement with the United States of America.

Government employees take oaths and have to sign multitudes of documents prior to starting their jobs. Among them is an NDA agreement. This gov't NDA here is just a generic one. I'm sure that a high level guy like turdblossom has to sign even tighter agreements.

However there is a specific codicil in the agreement that makes it abundently clear that Rove broke the agreement. Section 3 of the document states:

"I have been advised that the unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized retention, or negligent handling of classified information by me could cause damage or irreparable injury to the United States or could be used to advantage by a foreign nation. I hereby agree that I will never divulge classified information to anyone..... I understand that if I am uncertain about the classification status of information, I am required to confirm from an authorized official that the information is unclassified before I may disclose it..... I further understand that I am obligated to comply with laws and regulations that prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of classified information."

It couldn't be any clearer. Rove violated the agreement. The NDA covers both negligent and deliberate leaking of information.

I have quite a bit of experience with NDA's. There is usually a penalty for violating them. For corporations it's usually monetary. For Corporate Officers, there could be criminal penalties. On a reality TV show the penalty for disclosing the ending of a show starts at $5million. For Federal employees I would think that termination would be part of the equation.

I can only imagine what sort for penalty there is for a guy that violates his White House non-disclosure agreement. Oh wait, I don't have to imagine. It states the penalty very clearly in the NDA.

4. I have been advised that any breach of this Agreement may result in the termination of any security clearances I hold; removal from any position of special confidence and trust requiring such clearances; or the termination of my employment or other relationships with the Departments or Agencies that granted my security clearance or clearances. In addition, I have
been advised that any unauthorized disclosure of classified information by me may constitute a violation, or violations, of United States criminal laws, including the provisions of Sections 641, 793, 794, 798, *952 and 1924, Title 18, United States Code, * the provisions of Section 783(b), Title 50, United States Code, and the provisions of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982. I recognize that nothing in this Agreement constitutes a waiver by the United States of the right to prosecute me for any statutory violation.

So, the answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE. Rove can be terminated, clipped of his security clearance, restricted from access and thrown in jail.

So, I have to ask, why haven't any of these punitive measures been taken?

I wonder if there some rules about failure to take action on a known violation...

Currently I'm listening to Alley Cat from the album "'60s Instrumentals (Take Two) " by Bent Fabric