WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress and 10 ex-CIA officials are seeking a broader inquiry into the leak of an undercover officer's name, aiming to determine whether U.S. national security was compromised and to discourage future leaks.
In addition, a leading Democratic critic of the Justice Department investigation into the matter says the Bush administration should release details of the probe to show the public whether officials are cooperating as President Bush promised.
''A prosecutor has the responsibility to assure public confidence in criminal investigations, especially those of such a serious nature,'' Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a letter Thursday to Deputy Attorney General James Comey.
Justice Department and FBI officials refused to comment on any aspect of the investigation, which began in September, other than to say it is continuing. Attorney General John Ashcroft has recused himself from the probe, which is led by Comey and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago.
Time magazine reported on its Web site that a grand jury in Washington began hearing testimony in the leak investigation Wednesday. Two law-enforcement officials said they could not confirm the report.
Investigators want to know who leaked the name of the CIA undercover officer, Valerie Plame, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak in July. Her husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, has said his wife's identity may have been disclosed to discredit his assertions that the Bush administration exaggerated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to build a case for war.
The former CIA officials, in a letter to congressional leaders, said an investigation by Congress could go further than the Justice Department's by exposing how the leak happened and making clear that such actions won't be tolerated.
''A thorough and successful congressional investigation of this crime is necessary to send a clear signal that the elected representatives of this government will not accept nor ignore the political exploitation of the men and women in our intelligence community,'' said the letter, dated Tuesday.
The letter, signed by former CIA analyst Larry C. Johnson and nine other former agency analysts and case officers, was sent to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and other senior Democrats and Republicans in the House. A congressional official provided a copy Thursday to The Associated Press.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that she agreed with the thrust of the former officials' letter and expressed support for an effort by Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., to force the House to examine the case, including the possible damage to national security.
Holt and other Democrats have introduced a resolution that, if approved, would request that the Bush administration forward all documents related to the Plame case. It is far from certain that the Republican-led House will even consider the resolution or launch an investigation of its own.
''The Department of Justice investigation has the full support of Congress and should be vigorously pursued, but it is not enough,'' Holt said.
In his letter to Comey, Schumer asked for public release of details such as whether a grand jury is investigating the matter, whether any journalists have been interviewed and whether White House staffers had signed waivers releasing journalists from their promise of source confidentiality.
The answers to these and other questions, Schumer said, could help the public understand ''whether the administration is playing a spin game to make it look like it is cooperating.''
Justice Department officials declined comment on Schumer's request. They noted, however, that some of the information being sought is prevented by law from disclosure in active criminal investigations.
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