July 22, 2005
DIFFERENCES AREN'T LIES:
Rove, Libby Accounts in CIA Case Differ With Those of Reporters (Richard Keil, 7/22/05, Bloomberg)
Two top White House aides have given accounts to a special prosecutor about how reporters first told them the identity of a CIA agent that are at odds with what the reporters have said, according to people familiar with the case.Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, told special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that he first learned from NBC News reporter Tim Russert of the identity of Central Intelligence Agency operative Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, one person said. Russert has testified before a federal grand jury that he didn't tell Libby of Plame's identity, the person said.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove told Fitzgerald that he first learned the identity of the CIA agent from syndicated columnist Robert Novak, according a person familiar with the matter. Novak, who was first to report Plame's name and connection to Wilson, has given a somewhat different version to the special prosecutor, the person said.
None of the four are going to be prosecuted for perjury solely on the basis of he said/he said. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 22, 2005 12:00 AM
Boy, Karl Rove really has dropped off the radar screen, hasn't he?
And (if) when Rehnquist suddenly retires in late September, he'll drop off again. Once Fitzgerald indicts Wilson/Plame, then it'll be back to "Karl? Karl who?"
In the mean time, Rove should let it slip that he has dinner with Tim Russert once a month, and sometimes Bob Novak comes over and they talk. And talk. And talk.
Posted by: ratbert at July 22, 2005 3:11 PM