Statement by The Post's Glenn Kessler

Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler made the following statement before testifying today before special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is investigating whether Bush administration officials illegally disclosed the name of a covert CIA officer last summer:

"It is important to me to explain why I am testifying.

"As a reporter for more than 20 years, I have always lived up to promises of confidentiality to my sources. Government officials and others have known they can rely on me to keep confidential any sensitive information they have provided to me under condition of anonymity. This trust is crucial to my ability to do my job. I will honor those confidences even if served with a grand jury subpoena.

"In this case, I face an unusual situation. Mr. Libby [I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Cheney's chief of staff] signed a waiver in which he asked me to discuss with the Special Counsel whether the Wilson matter was raised in two conversations that I had with him in 2003. Under these circumstances, at the request of my source, I am giving a deposition regarding these questions."