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Breaking news from the Associated Press:

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed former CIA operative Valerie Plame's lawsuit against members of the Bush administration in the CIA leak scandal.

Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to leak her identity in 2003. Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds and said he would not express an opinion on the constitutional arguments. Bates dismissed the case against all defendants: Cheney, White House political adviser Karl Rove, former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Plame's attorneys had said the lawsuit would be an uphill battle. Public officials are normally immune from such lawsuits filed in connection with their jobs.

Thanks to Adam B, here's the link to the ruling for the legal mavens among you. It says, in part:

. . . the Court finds that, under controlling Supreme Court precedent, special factors -- particularly the remedial scheme established by Congress in the Privacy Act -- counsel against the recognition of an implied damages remedy for plaintiffs' constitutional claims. The Court also finds that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over the tort claim because plaintiffs have not exhausted their administrative remedies under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which is the proper, and exclusive, avenue for relief on such a claim.

And just for the sake in rubbing salt in everyone's wounds, there's this from Editor & Publisher magazine (via Cliff Schecter):

The first major Hollywood film inspired by the Plame/CIA leak case is ready to roll and, surprise, the main focus apparently will not be on a character based on Valerie or Joe Wilson, Bob Novak or even Patrick Fitzgerald -- but rather on Judith Miller. And she may be played by Kate Beckinsale, who is quite a few years younger than the real thing.

Or as London's Daily Telegraph puts it today in a headline: "Kate to play Hack."

I looked for a version of that story on the Telegraph's website, but no luck, unfortunately. (Update: Here it is. Thanks to nonplussed in the comments!)

Edie Falco, fresh from "The Sopranos," is targeted to play the Bill Keller role as the editor of the jailed female reporter. Matt Damon would be the prosecutor [actually, "Variety" said it would be Matt Dillon -- S.], and up-and-comer Vera Farmiga would play the dashing CIA agent.

News has emerged that Rod Lurie, known for his fine Capitol Hill drama "The Contender," will direct the film, titled "Nothing But the Truth." . . .

Shooting may begin in October. If it happens, this would beat to the screen a planned fact-based film based on the memoir being written by Plame.

So that makes two pieces of bad news in one day. Check out Cliff Schecter's post for a picture of the actress signed to play the role based on Valerie Plame Wilson.

P.S. Yes, the Wilsons "anticipate filing an appeal" of the ruling dismissing their suit.