Whether President Bush broke the law or not when he authorized Scooter Libby to show part of a secret intelligence document to a reporter, in his public statements about the Plame CIA leak, Bush made his feelings about leaking very clear:
THE PRESIDENT: Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There’s leaks at the executive branch; there’s leaks in the legislative branch. There’s just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.
THE PRESIDENT: This is a town of — where a lot of people leak. And I’ve constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly leaks of classified information.
REPORTER Given — given recent developments in the CIA leak case, particularly Vice President Cheney’s discussions with the investigators, do you still stand by what you said several months ago, a suggestion that it might be difficult to identify anybody who leaked the agent’s name?
BUSH: That’s up to —
REPORTER And, and, do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so?
BUSH: Yes.
