During the 2007 House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigation of the disclosure of the identity of former CIA employee Valerie Plame, White House Security Office Director James Knodell testified about whether any disciplinary action was taken by his office regarding Senior Advisor to the President Karl Rove and whether either Rove or the Press Secretary to the President had reported an inappropriate disclosure of Plame’s identity to his office.

• Reviewed the content of the FBI background investigation files on two individuals: White House Office of Security Director Craig Livingstone and detailee Anthony Marceca;
• Received testimony from FBI and Secret Service agents about both information in individual appointee background checks that raised concerns and conversations that a Secret Service agent had with an Associate White House Counsel about the concerns.

The Committee’s final report stated:

“The importance of following procedures and determining the suitability of staff members is to protect both the President, personally, and the vast amount of sensitive information at the White House. At no place is it more important that individuals of the highest caliber serve in positions of responsibility than at the White House. The White House handles matters of life and death on a daily basis and the American people must be able to rely upon stable and suitable people being involved in this process.”