Diary: Why Does Rove Keep His Security Clearance?

NATIONAL SECURITY -- ROVE WILL NOT GIVE UP SECURITY CLEARANCE DESPITE ENDING POLICY ROLE: The White House announced yesterday that Karl Rove will step down from his policy post and resume his focus on the midterm elections. To this day, Rove has maintained his security clearance in spite of evidence suggesting that he mishandled classified information regarding Valerie Wilson's position at the CIA. (Rove was named in the indictment of Scooter Libby as "Official A.") Executive Order 12958, signed by President Clinton in 1995, states that disclosure of an undercover agent is grounds for, at a minimum, losing access to classified information, specifying that violations include "any knowing, willful, or negligent action" that results in the improper release of classified national security information. In November, Newsweek wrote, "Having his security clearance yanked would not require Rove to resign as deputy chief of staff to President Bush. But it would prevent him from taking part in policymaking that relates to national-security issues, which would mean a much-reduced role in the Bush White House." Yet, when asked yesterday whether Rove would retain his clearance, Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, "Oh, absolutely, yes." Rove has now resigned his policy-making post and is focusing primarily on politics. Given Rove's public intentions to make national security the focus of the 2006 elections, it is deeply troubling that he will be doing his political job while holding a security clearance.

The gall this administration has knows no end. Is there any reasonable explanation for allowing him to continue to have this clearance?