...After her name appeared in Mr. Novak's column, the CIA was obligated under the law to request an investigation by the Justice Department. In late July, it sent what is called a "crime report" to Justice on the possible violation of federal criminal law concerning an unauthorized disclosure — in this case Mrs. Wilson's name and occupation.

The CIA sends about 50 such referrals per year. Few, if any, such probes ever identify the leaker in a way that results in public criminal charges. The Wilson referral was sent by the CIA's general counsel, not by agency Director George J. Tenet.

The CIA follows up such referrals with a second letter to Justice answering 11 standard questions, such as what damage was none to national security and who in government knew of the information. The CIA sent this letter in mid-September...