Valerie Plame, the former CIA operative whose name was leaked during the George W. Bush administration, on Thursday launched a campaign for a House seat representing northern New Mexico.
“Over 10 years ago, I chose to make New Mexico my home and it has become my heart. I have lived all over the world and have never felt more connected to a place and its special people than in The Land of Enchantment,” Plame said in a statement on her campaign website. “Our state is magical in many ways and I want to continue to protect its unique cultures and communities. From personal experience, I know what it is like to fight hard for what you believe in and I will take those lessons and fight for your needs. I want a brighter future for New Mexicans.”
Plame became a household name when her name was leaked as her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, vocally opposed the administration’s claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted in 2007 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from the leak, and he was pardoned by President Trump last year.
When Plame left the CIA in 2006, she moved to New Mexico, and she’s been eyeing a congressional run since earlier this year.
