Novak Squealed

[WillyT]

Novak Squealed
David Corn
July 07, 2005

<snip>

As Judith Miller of The New York Times sits in jail for refusing to reveal a source to Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor investigating the Bush administration leak that identified CIA officer Valerie Wilson (nee Plame), the question remains, why is Robert Novak, the conservative columnist who published the original leak, enjoying his freedom?

Not that Novak should be a target for prosecution. Under U.S. law—particularly the Intelligence Identities Protection Act—only U.S. government officials who intentionally disclose the identity of an American intelligence official are fair game for a prosecutor. The journalist to whom they leak cannot be prosecuted. This is a good thing. We do not want reporters being tossed into the hoosegow for publishing secrets obtained from the government. England has an official secrets act; we former colonists do not. (I wish more people understood the legal distinction between Novak's leakers and Novak. I receive loads of e-mails from people who indignantly ask why Fitzgerald hasn't charged Novak with a crime.) But the issue is this: While other reporters have resolved to be imprisoned to protect their sources—whether these sources deserve protection or not—what has Novak done? The obvious answer: He has squealed.

To be fair, we don't know for sure. Novak has declined to answer any questions about the investigation and his interactions with Fitzgerald. But here are two pretty solid assumptions.

1) Fitzgerald wants to know the name of the two unidentified Bush "senior administration officials" Novak cited in his July 14, 2003, column that outed Valerie Wilson, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, a White House critic. That's the whole point of his investigation.

2) Fitzgerald at some point must have asked Novak to name names. After all, he requested that Matt Cooper of Time and Miller reveal their sources. (Cooper narrowly avoided going to prison on Wednesday when his source—Karl Rove?—gave him permission to testify before Fitzgerald's grand jury. Previously, Time magazine turned over his notes and e-mails to Fitzgerald.)

Fitzgerald has not slapped Novak with a subpoena. Thus, Novak in some manner, shape or form cooperated with Fitzgerald. Otherwise, he would be in the same—or similar—legal quicksand as Miller.

<snip>

Link: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050707/novak_squealed.php

Like a stuck pig, I'd guess!!!

:shrug:

Gonna keep swingin away at this folks.

:hi:

[deutsey]

1. I love Corn's commentaries.

:thumbsup:

[Junkdrawer]

2. The Plame thing is sooo yesterday....7/7 changed everything...

:sarcasm:

[Coexist]

6. Did you hear Condi invoking the horror of 9/11 today in her

interview. I heard it on the BBC radio. It was in response to being asked if our being in Iraq has increased terror in this world. She said, September 11th, two-thousand-and-one was before the war in Afghanistan.

I would like to personally challenge the entire cabal to finish a f@*cking sentence without hiding behind that tragedy.

[WillyT]

7. I Know... I'm Feelin So Guilty Here !!!

:sarcasm:

[ClintonTyree]

3. That's a pretty crappy law.....

that allows Journalists (or in Novak's case, douchbags) to reveal the identity of an active CIA agent thus putting that agent's life and mission in jeopardy. If a regular citizens were to do this, would we be afforded the same protection as Journalists and douchebags? :shrug:

Novak should STILL be culpable, he knew what he was doing was wrong. This isn't a fucking game, he put an agent and her mission in jeopardy just so he could have a "scoop" and look like Mr. Bigshit.

Novak is a festering puss wart on the backside of America.

[longship]

4. The crappy law of which you speak has a name.

It's called the First Amendment.

[bloom]

5. yeah

lawyers and psychologists do not have confidentially protection that allows them to cover up or not report a crime that is about to happen or to participate in one.

That is what journalists are comparing this to. That other professions have protections. They are not addressing the criminal aspect.

[Pithy Cherub]

10. Real lawyers and psychologists must also be licensed.

A journalist is just a citizen. Why they think they are above the level of citizen really gets me. Journalists freak out when you mention licensing, but now they want to be arbiters of the law.
Ya gotta get a license to practice law...

:hi:

[trof]

8. Very helpful post. Thank you.

I now have a better understanding of the law and situation.

[undergroundpanther]

9. Cronies will be cronies

And they will not inciminate each other because if one tells all all are impilicated..