If you want a view of what it was like back in the good old days(hasn't been updated since Sept 03), the following link you should like:
http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/theBigLeak.html
Of note is that it mentions Andrea Mitchell as one of the 6 reporters who the WH pitched Plame to.
I'm putting this up here as a central repository of IIPA, espionage act and other legal goodies related to the case for easy reference. Other statutes to follow.
The impotrant stuff is in bold,
More after I finish this bottle of Jack
CHAPTER 15--NATIONAL SECURITY
SUBCHAPTER IV--PROTECTION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Sec. 421. Protection of identities of certain United States
undercover intelligence officers, agents, informants, and sources
(a) Disclosure of information by persons having or having had access to
classified information that identifies covert agent
Whoever( the following are the three standards that need to be met)
, having or having had authorized access to classified
information that identifies a covert agent
, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information,
knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States,
shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Disclosure of information by persons who learn identity of covert agents as result of having access to classified information
Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identify of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined
not more than $25,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
;TITLE 50--WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CHAPTER 15--NATIONAL SECURITY
SUBCHAPTER IV--PROTECTION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Sec. 422. Defenses and exceptions
(a) Disclosure by United States of identity of covert agent
It is a defense to a prosecution under section 421 of this title
that before the commission of the offense with which the defendant is charged, the United States had publicly acknowledged or revealed the
intelligence relationship to the United States of the individual the disclosure of whose intelligence relationship to the United States is
the basis for the prosecution.
(b) Conspiracy, misprision of felony, aiding and abetting, etc.
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person other than a person committing an offense under section 421 of this title shall be subject to prosecution under such section by virtue of section 2 or 4 of title 18 or shall be subject to prosecution for conspiracy to commit an
offense under such section.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply (A) in the case of a person who
acted in the course of a pattern of activities intended to identify and
expose covert agents and with reason to believe that such activities would impair or impede the foreign intelligence activities of the United
States, or (B) in the case of a person who has authorized access to
classified information.
(c) Disclosure to select Congressional committees on intelligence
It shall not be an offense under section 421 of this title to
transmit information described in such section directly to the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate or to the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
(d) Disclosure by agent of own identity
It shall not be an offense under section 421 of this title for an
individual to disclose information that solely identifies himself as a
covert agent.
[update]
The first 4 paragraphs of the NDA any White House senior staff member would've signed
1. Intending to be legally bound, I hereby accept the obligations
contained in this Agreement in consideration of my being granted
access to classified information. As used in this Agreement,
classified information is marked or unmarked classified information,
including oral communications, that is classified under the standards
of Executive Order 12958, or under any other Executive order or
statute that prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of information in
the interest of national security; and unclassified information that
meets the standards for classification and is in the process of a
classification determination as provided in Sections 1.2, 1.3, and
1.4(e) of Executive Order 12958, or under any other Executive order or
statute that requires protection for such information in the interest
of national security. I understand and accept that by being granted
access to classified information, special confidence and trust shall
be placed in me by the United States Government.
2. I hereby acknowledge that I have received a security indoctrination
concerning the nature and protection of classified information,
including the procedures to be followed in ascertaining whether other
persons to whom I contemplate disclosing this information have been
approved for access to it, and that I understand these procedures.
3. I have been advised that the unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized
retention, or negligent handling of classified information by me could
cause damage or irreparable injury to the United States or could be
used to advantage by a foreign nation. I hereby agree that I will
never divulge classified information to anyone unless: (a) I have
officially verified that the recipient has been properly authorized by
the United States Government to receive it; or (b) I have been given
prior written notice of authorization from the United States
Government Department or Agency (hereinafter Department or Agency)
responsible for the classification of the information or last granting
me a security clearance that such disclosure is permitted. I
understand that if I am uncertain about the classification status of
information, I am required to confirm from an authorized official that
the information is unclassified before I may disclose it, except to a
person as provided in (a) or (b), above. I further understand that I
am obligated to comply with laws and regulations that prohibit the
unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
4. I have been advised that any breach of this Agreement may result in
the termination of any security clearances I hold; removal from any
position of special confidence and trust requiring such clearances; or
the termination of my employment or other relationships with the
Departments or Agencies that granted my security clearance or
clearances. In addition, I have been advised that any unauthorized
disclosure of classified information by me may constitute a violation,
or violations, of United States criminal laws, including the
provisions of Sections 641, 793, 794, 798, *952 and 1924, Title 18,
United States Code, * the provisions of Section 783(b), Title 50,
United States Code, and the provisions of the Intelligence Identities
Protection Act of 1982. I recognize that nothing in this Agreement
constitutes a waiver by the United States of the right to
prosecute me for any statutory violation.
Title 18, pt 1, chpt 37 aka espionage act
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000792----000-.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000793----000-.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000794----000-.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000798----000-.html