As a covert officer in the CIAs Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valeries husband, diplomat JOE WILSON (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and ignites a firestorm of controversy.