More Calls for Revoking Rove's Security Clearance

Sen Trent Lott (R-MS) has joined a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers in calling for revoking White House advisor Karl Rove's security clearance.

What does it take to get your security clearance revoked? The Los Angeles Times has an interesting list:

• An intelligence analyst temporarily lost his top-secret security clearance when he faxed his resume on a commercial fax machine
• A Defense Department worker had her clearance suspended for months because she dumped a boyfriend and he called to say she might not be reliable
• An Army officer who spoke publicly about intelligence failures before the 9/11 attacks lost his clearance over $67 in personal charges to a military cellphone

But Mr Rove is under investigation for his role it the White House leak of a CIA agent identity. The leak exposed a CIA front company that covertly tracked the spread of nuclear materials around the world. Certainly a more serious offense that these infractions.

And he still has his security clearance intact.

Karl Rove has been identified as "Official A" mentioned in the indictment handed down against former VIce Presidential Chief of Staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby. It suggests Mr Rove was had spoken with columnist Robert Novak about the column that published agent Valerie Plame's identity.

This is inviolation of Executive Order 12958.

That order -- issued in 1995 -- calls for security clearances to be pulled from people in Mr Rove's situation.

Maybe it's who you know. (LAT)