http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051025/pl_af...aq_051025174725

Senator urges Bush to fire any aide indicted in CIA leak probe Tue Oct 25, 1:47 PM ET



WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top Democratic senator called on US President George W. Bush to sack any White House aide indicted for leaking the identity of a covert CIA official.

Senator Charles Schumer -- one of the first members of Congress to call for an independent investigation into the alleged unmasking of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame -- urged Bush to break his silence about the case.

"I write to encourage you to swiftly and strongly clarify that anyone who is indicted in the ongoing CIA leak investigation will be removed from the White House immediately and until the case is resolved," the New York Democrat wrote in a letter to the president Tuesday.

Independent counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is nearing the end a nearly two-year long investigation into the leak, and rumors have swirled that among those who might face charges are senior White House Bush advisors Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

With indictments possible at any moment, "it is important that you make this clear ... that your standard will not shift depending on the status of the individual(s) indicted -- whether it is a low-level assistant or the most trusted and high-ranking aide," Schumer wrote.

"Anyone indicted, and thus found likely to have violated the law on a national security issue, should be treated the same and removed from the White House staff."

Schumer also urged the president to discourage critics from within his adminsitration from attacking Fitzgerald.

"Recent press stories have contained some troubling statements from anonymous 'White House allies' attempting to discredit Mr Fitzgerald personally, perhaps in anticipation of coming indictments," Schumer wrote, praising Fitzgerald as "an apolitical 'prosecutors prosecutor,' and beyond reproach."

"I urge you to call on your alleged 'allies' to refrain from attacking either Mr Fitzgerald or his decision, whatever it is."