WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- The identity of a CIA operative, whose name was leaked to news media, was included in a classified U.S. State Department memo before the leak was made.
The Washington Post reported Thursday the identity of Valerie Plame -- identified by her married name of Valerie Wilson -- was included in a paragraph marked "(S)" for secret. The memo was given to Secretary of State Colin Powell a week before Plame's name was mentioned in the media.
Unnamed sources, however, told the Post the "secret" designation was not directly attached to Plame's name and did not say she was working covertly.
Federal prosecutors are trying to determine whether a government official revealed Plame's identity. It is a crime to reveal the name of covert CIA operatives.
Plame's husband, former Ambassador James Wilson, claims a White House official leaked his wife's name in retaliation for his op-ed essay in The New York Times disputing Bush administration allegations Iraq was trying to get nuclear materials from Niger.
