Jul 12 2006
More Novak On Plame
Well, the article is finally out and there is not much more than what we knew (and I posted on) last night. Novak attempted to hide his sources, but Fitzgerald and the FBI had already determined his sources from what I would guess were the interviews of key players. Armitage was known to have talked to Novak during that period, so I am sure during his interview by the FBI he fessed up, and it seems he contacted Novak after his interview to ‘explain’ his position in the matter:
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.
If Rove had called Novak to ‘explain’ his role (so that Novak would give a consistent account) then the press and the Wilsons would be screaming collusion. I find this to be another indication of Fitzgerald’s negligent tunnel vision. The question is how did Armitage know about Plame? Supposedly she was some low level under cover analyst in the bowels of the CIA. Armitage was number 2 at State. There is more here which may come out in the Libby court case. But I find it amazing that Novak’s source called to tell him the comment was inadvertant! Why was he feeling the need to make this statement?
On Hume he said just afew interesting things:(1) That Harlow never said Plame was classified. He asked Novak not to print her name because it might cause her embarrassment when she traveled overseas. He said if Tenet or anyone had indicated to him the information was classified ot that printing her name would place her in danger, he would not have.
(2)No one in the Administration ever said a bad thing about Wilson. He learned of his wife’s role when in a discussion of US foreign policy with the official, he asked why Wilson was chosen for this trip, was told it was a “boondoggle” for which his wife had recommended him.
—AS to why Fitz proceeded with the grand jury–the only exculpatory reason is that he believed Grossman’s false 1×2×6 story–Grossman, Wilson’s good friend beginning with their college days and throughout their time at DoS.Pheh..Stupid.—
Clarice…that’s probably it! Fitz’s believed the 1x2x6 and probably felt like he couldn’t uncover it, they were hiding it. Because coupled with Rove forgetting the Cooper call it made it all fishy.
Marc Grossman is most definitely the source of 1x2x6. He outed himself to FBI and Fitz —-GROSSMAN defined the narrative and direction of the investigation!
He admitted he informed his boss and agrees his boss only “inadvertently” told Novak, but make no mistake there was a concerted “smear campaign”, not a DOS but in the WH. So Grossman has set himself up to be a “whistleblower” bravely admitting that as mush as it pained him to turn, he to admit it was a mean, nasty campaign he was witness to — that’s why he says at some latter point he “warned” Libby — he was trying to save Libby from himself and stop this madness of the campaign!
Hmm..so things began to unravel a bit when Luskin put forth V.Novak…Fitz held back on Rove and proceeded with Libby…he still saw a leverage advantage with going forth with Libby…
But when Woodward pops forward, Fitz in position to wonder why he’s learning more but not convinced his smear campaign theory is misguided. 1x2x6 but because of what Woodward has to say there are cracks starting to appear…
I think the revelation that the Wilson’s and Grossman’s are so friendly caused Fitz to pause…he can’t make 1x2x6 real even though he kind of believed it (in theory), every other aspect is starting to look problematic too.
You know, it happens to lawyers all the time…at the latest stage some revelation about a client or witness emerges and screws the whole thing up (usually resulting in a hasty settlement)
Imagine you are Fitz and a detail about one your chief witnesses –who has dictated in sense the flow of the investigation AND prosecution PLAN– pops up that really threatens you entire strategy?
I mean, that Grossman is friendly with Wilson to point of vacations, is a biggy AND Fitz knows the guys a problem now – not only for that — but Fitz cannot deny he knows Grossman made up the 1x2x6 that isn’t true…i.e. a prosecutor known credibility problem.
And then Cooper’s drafts (coupled with Coopers welfare reform memory) has prolly made Fitz think WTF? Couple of people here have made ma look like a jackass.
Shoot! Novak has been on Hannity and Colmes for a little bit now…he did say Murray Waas’s report was completely false…did he say who his source on the street was?
HAH, I was reading the CNN interview in which Joe Wilson says
“my wife was not cladestine the day Robert Novak blew her identity”
but this is pretty funny cough Who’s Who cough cough
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/14/wbr.01.html
also this is
Ooops Joe…not only has Fitz not charged all the leakers with outing someone…Fitz believes Rove passed the smell test…
Here is what doesn’t pass my smell test:
Riddle me this:
How could Joe Wilson believe that the truth would not at some point come out? His lie of having been sent to Africa by Cheney and the lies of some grand White House conspiracy to damage him are just two examples. This entire thing is some kind of smokescreen. It was designed to get people’s attention on this subject and keep it there for some period of time. What I am most interested in is what it was designed to divert people’s attention *away from*. That is what I believe is really at the bottom of all of this. This entire thing would eventually be exposed and Wilson would have to know that.
I guess it doesn’t matter of the truth comes out as long as the book deals are signed first.