First off, if you read the article, as opposed to PW's spin, MSNBC did not report that Rove is guilty.

A commentator, who works for MSNBC, went on another talk show and speculated that Rove was guilty. Not at all the same thing.

Furthermore, even if true that Rove leaked the name, it has been noted on more than one occasion here that this was quite possibly not even a crime.

About three months ago, it was pointed out on these very boards that that the so-called "outing" of Plame was probably not criminal after all:

For example, in the Washington Post:

    The nation's largest news organizations and journalism groups [filed a brief in federal court Wednesday arguing that] a federal court should first determine whether a crime has been committed in the disclosure of an undercover CIA operative's name before prosecutors are allowed to continue seeking testimony from journalists about their confidential sources

    The 40-page brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, argues that there is "ample evidence . . . to doubt that a crime has been committed" in the case, which centers on the question of whether Bush administration officials knowingly revealed the identity of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame in the summer of 2003.



And according to the NY Times:

    ...an even more basic issue has been raised...the real possibility that the disclosure of Ms. Plame's identity, while an abuse of power, may not have violated any law. Before any reporters are jailed, searching court review is needed to determine whether the facts indeed support a criminal prosecution under existing provisions of the law protecting the identities of covert operatives.



And in August of last year, I noted the following:
Quote:

under the law , an employee is a "covert agent" for the purposes of the statute if and only if he "is serving outside the United States or has within the last five years served outside the United States."

Given that Plame gave birth to twins in 1999 or 2000, and unlikelihood that the CIA would send a new or expectant mother overseas on a dangerous assignment, one may surmise that Plame was not a covert agent.



So, even if this allegation is true, I think before you hold that "Felony Treason Trial," you need to first have a criminal violation.