Why Do High-Level U.S. Officials Leak? The Cases of James Comey, "Scooter" Libby, and Bill Richardson

• In Event: The Role of Institutional Claims-Makers in Shaping Public Narratives About Crime and Safety

Abstract

In the United States, the actions of high-level U.S. government officials, namely Lewis
“Scooter” Libby, Bill Richardson, and James Comey, have sparked an intense debate regarding
the role of leaking among elite government officials. This research suggests that leaking is often viewed as a sign of organizational failure, a perspective shared by top U.S. political leaders such as President Donald Trump. The research suggests that these reactions may align with David Pozen's concept of "leaky Leviathan," which views leaking as an adaptive response to external liabilities and internal pathologies. Pozen argues that the state's contradictory behavior of condemning and condoning leaks reflects this concept. This study examines high-profile leaks by Lewis Libby ("Plamegate"), James Comey (conversations with President Trump), and Bill Richardson (Wen Ho Lee case). It concludes that while Pozen's "leaky Leviathan" concept is largely valid, it overlooks political factors and the leaked information's nature. Sagar's "creaky Leviathan" concept provides a more comprehensive explanation. Here, leak-related policies and
practices often reflect the "creakiness of the state," with inconsistent enforcement, bureaucratic
hurdles, and unintended consequences such as that stemming from personal agendas in leaking.

Author

• Emanuel Boussios, Hofstra University