Dems call on Bush to address CIA leak

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Democrats Friday suggested President Bush have a primetime news conference to answer questions about the leak of a CIA operative's name.

Vice President Richard Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, faced possible indictment by a federal grand jury investigating the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame's name in the run up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The Washington Post said Libby discussed Plame, wife of former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, with New York Times reporter Judith Miller. Libby appeared before the grand jury twice and reportedly testified he learned Wilson's wife was in the CIA from NBC correspondent Tim Russert. Russert said he provided no such information.

"Public confidence in the direction of our country is crumbling under the weight of President Bush's failed leadership," said Karen Finney, director of communication for the Democratic National Committee. "No matter how hard he tries President Bush is not going to be able to put this behind him with photo ops and rhetoric."