July 12, 2006

YOU KNEW THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS WOULDN'T BRING FITZMAS GIFTS:

My Role in the Valerie Plame Leak Story (Robert Novak, Jul 12, 2006, Human Events)

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has informed my attorneys that, after two and one-half years, his investigation of the CIA leak case concerning matters directly relating to me has been concluded. That frees me to reveal my role in the federal inquiry that, at the request of Fitzgerald, I have kept secret. [...]

[T]wo days before my meeting with Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor informed Hamilton that he would be bringing to the Swidler Berlin offices only two waivers. One was by my principal source in the Valerie Wilson column, a source whose name has not yet been revealed. The other was by presidential adviser Karl Rove, whom I interpret as confirming my primary source's information. In other words, the special prosecutor knew the names of my sources.

When Fitzgerald arrived, he had a third waiver in hand -- from Bill Harlow, the CIA public information officer who was my CIA source for the column confirming Mrs. Wilson's identity. I answered questions using the names of Rove, Harlow and my primary source. [...]

I have revealed Rove's name because his attorney has divulged the substance of our conversation, though in a form different from my recollection. I have revealed Harlow's name because he has publicly disclosed his version of our conversation, which also differs from my recollection. My primary source has not come forward to identify himself. [...]

In my sworn testimony, I said what I have contended in my columns and on television: Joe Wilson's wife's role in instituting her husband's mission was revealed to me in the middle of a long interview with an official who I have previously said was not a political gunslinger. After the federal investigation was announced, he told me through a third party that the disclosure was inadvertent on his part.

Following my interview with the primary source, I sought out the second administration official and the CIA spokesman for confirmation. I learned Valerie Plame's name from Joe Wilson's entry in "Who's Who in America."

I considered his wife's role in initiating Wilson's mission, later confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, to be a previously undisclosed part of an important news story. I reported it on that basis.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 12, 2006 12:37 AM
Comments

So during a rambling discussion Richard Armitage (?) accidentally tells Novak that Wilson was sent on the trip by his wife who works at the CIA. To confirm, Novak calls Rove, who says "I heard that too." When ready to publish, Novak also calls (or is called by) Bill Harlow who confirms the above. Novak gets Valerie's name from Wilson's CV in "Who's Who".

Thus the nasty mean-spirited leak by the BushHitler regime to blow the secret cover of poor innocent Valerie Plame by the evil Darth Rove.

And we learn that Fitzgerald already knew the names of the participants from day one, having waivers already in his hand for Armitage(?), Rove, and Harlow. 2-1/2 years of investigation follow with no additional leads (except to catch Scooter in he-said/she-said).

Meanwhile a leaker blows the SWIFT program to the NYT, and nothing happens.

Posted by: Gideon at July 12, 2006 9:21 AM

That's about it in a nutshell!

Posted by: Dave W at July 12, 2006 11:10 AM

Of course, Rove probably heard it from Armitage.

Posted by: David Cohen at July 12, 2006 3:49 PM

But dollars to doughnuts that Joe Wilson himself told David Corn.

Posted by: ratbert at July 12, 2006 4:23 PM

I still think Colin Powell is the name that no one dares to speak. That's why Libby's trial should be held as scheduled and all the players in Fitzgerald's little black book should be called upon to testify under oath.

It'll provide a fascinating segue into the 2008 primary season.

Posted by: erp at July 13, 2006 7:49 AM
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