Focus of CIA Leak Probe Appears to Widen into a Broader Conspiracy

[julialnyc]

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB112907415441266084-VDsI1ez92Qlr0_XPP5IbwfiUKHI_20051111.html?mod=blogs

snipped....

There are signs that prosecutors now are looking into contacts between administration officials and journalists that took place much earlier than previously thought. Earlier conversations are potentially significant, because that suggests the special prosecutor leading the investigation is exploring whether there was an effort within the administration at an early stage to develop and disseminate confidential information to the press that could undercut former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife, Central Intelligence Agency official Valerie Plame.

Mr. Wilson had become a thorn in the Bush administration's side, as he sought to undermine the administration's claims that Iraq had sought to buy materials for building nuclear weapons from other countries, such as uranium "yellowcake" from Niger. Ultimately, his wife's name and identity were disclosed in a newspaper column, prompting the investigation into whether someone in the administration broke the law by revealing the identity of an undercover agent.

Ms. Miller, the Times reporter, was interviewed again yesterday to discuss conversations she had with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the vice president's chief of staff. She testified on Sept. 30 before a grand jury about conversations she had with Mr. Libby in July 2003.


Since then, her lawyers have told Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor investigating the leak of the CIA agent's identity, that Ms. Miller's notes show that she also spoke with Mr. Libby in late June, information that was not previously given to the grand jury.

Mr. Fitzgerald's pursuit now suggests he might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent's name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy.

more.....

[jody]

1. Wilson sought to undermine the administration's claims? He sought truth!

[julialnyc]

3. to those crooks that is undermining

N/T

[Lasher]

2. Woah, this is looking better all the time!

Hope this gets into Dubya lying us into Iraq. But I wish they would hurry up. If they take much longer, * will be out of office before they convict him.

[Beam Me Up]

4. OTOH, W is shielded by the office he occupies. n/t

[Just Me]

5. Maybe, a conspiracy to defraud the American people into,....

,...supporting an otherwise unlawful war?

[Bumblebee]

6. I am interested in this part:

Mr. Keller had earlier said the paper would publish a full account of everything Ms. Miller knew, but her continuing legal exposure has prevented the Times from doing so. Mr. Keller said yesterday in his memo that once Ms. Miller's "obligations to the grand jury are fulfilled, we intend to write the most thorough story we can of her entanglement with the White House leak investigation."


Any bets as to when? Tonight?

[kentuck]

7. The whole entire Iraq war was a conspiracy...

of the worst and most evil kind. People are dying because of the lies and the conspiracy.