Valerie Plame

Valerie Elise Plame Wilson (born August 14, 1966) is an American former CIA operations officer whose public exposure in 2003 became one of the most significant political scandals of the early 21st century. Working undercover for the CIA for over 20 years, Plame was investigating weapons of mass destruction and Iran's nuclear program when her identity was leaked to the media, reportedly as political retaliation after her husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson, publicly criticized the Bush administration's claims about Iraqi weapons. The unauthorized disclosure of her classified status ended her intelligence career and sparked a criminal investigation that led to the conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby. Following her outing, Plame became an author, writing a memoir titled 'Fair Game' and a spy thriller novel, and has been active in political advocacy and speaking engagements. Her case raised important questions about national security, government accountability, and the protection of intelligence officers.