Unauthorized disclosure

Unauthored disclosure, in the context of information necessary to preserve and maintain a country's national security -- often refered to in the vernacular as a leak -- is obviously a matter of deep concern.

Watergate
Unauthorized disclosures of confidential and/or secret information have led to full-blown scandal in the White House. In the Watergate case, someone codenamed Deep Throat revealed details of a White House coverup by President Richard M. Nixon and staff co-conspirators.

Valerie Plame
On July 14, 2003, the name of Valerie Plame, wife of retired Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, was leaked by columnist Robert Novak as a CIA covert operative.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration scandals
 * Covert Agent Identity Protection Act
 * Unofficial Official Secrets Act