Democrats said they did not view the decision as an exoneration of Rove, who had acknowledged that he spoke to two journalists in the days before they reported that Plame worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.
"The prosecutor's decision not to indict Karl Rove does not diminish the fact that Karl Rove was involved in leaking the identity of an intelligence operative during a time of war," said Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party. "Karl Rove does not belong in the White House. If the president valued America more than he valued his connection with Karl Rove, Karl Rove would have been fired a long time ago."
Luskin said in an interview Tuesday that he received a call and a letter from Fitzgerald on Monday. Luskin declined to make the correspondence public.
At the time, Rove was traveling in New Hampshire with his cellphone turned off, but Luskin said he sent Rove a message on his Blackberry: "Fitzgerald called. Case over." Luskin said Rove called him back.
"The conversation is personal. He was pleased and relieved," he said.
The case is rooted in allegations that administration officials twisted prewar intelligence about Iraq. Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, was sent by the CIA to Niger in 2002 to evaluate a claim that Iraq was seeking to acquire uranium. He concluded the claim was bogus, but Bush cited it in his 2003 State of the Union address. In a July 6, 2003, op-ed article in the New York Times, Wilson challenged the administration assessment.
Fitzgerald learned that the article provoked an immediate reaction from Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other officials who sought to undercut Wilson.
Eight days later, columnist Robert Novak, citing two administration sources, reported that Wilson's wife, Plame, was a CIA operative and had suggested Wilson be sent to Niger.
Several days later, Time magazine's website also reported on Plame.
Rove and other White House officials denied in the early days of the investigation that they had played a role in outing Plame.
Wilson and Plame, who retired from the CIA last year citing troubles stemming from having her cover blown, indicated through their lawyer Tuesday that they were considering legal action against Rove and other administration officials.
"The day still may come when Mr. Rove and others are called to account in a court of law for their attacks on the Wilsons," said Christopher Wolf, a lawyer who is advising the family.
