Federal Grand Jury Could Subpoena Talon News Correspondent (and RighTalk host)

Talon News ^ | 3/9/2004 | Jim Hauser

[ConservativeMajority]

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- A federal grand jury has subpoenaed White House records on administration contacts with more than two dozen journalists and news media outlets in a special investigation into the alleged improper leak of a covert CIA official's identity to columnist Robert Novak last July.

Talon News has learned that one of the journalists being targeted is Jeff Gannon, Washington Bureau Chief and White House correspondent for Talon News.

In July of 2003, syndicated columnist, Robert Novak wrote a piece entitled "Mission to Niger" in which he discussed retired diplomat Joseph C. Wilson's investigation into possible Iraqi purchases of uranium from Niger. In the article, Novak disclosed that he was told by two administration officials that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, suggested sending him to Niger to investigate claims outlined in an Italian report regarding the attempted uranium purchases by Iraq.

Novak also identified Plame as a "[CIA] operative on weapons of mass destruction," although in a follow-up column, Novak said that according to unofficial sources, Plame was an analyst and not involved in covert operations. Novak also stressed that her name and occupation were already well known.

"Republican activist Clifford May wrote Monday, in National Review Online, that he had been told of her identity by a non-government source before my column appeared and that it was common knowledge," said Novak in his follow-up column. "Her name, Valerie Plame, was no secret either, appearing in Wilson's 'Who's Who in America' entry."

Two days after Novak's second article, Jeff Gannon wrote a news story for Talon News that outlined White House claims of partisanship in the ensuing furor over the alleged leak.

At one point Gannon quotes a White House spokesman who said, "There are some people that are making unsubstantiated allegations and unsubstantiated rumors about the White House leaking classified information. And some of those people have been forced to back away from that, and then all of a sudden they move the goalpost and focus on another issue that's not the subject of the investigation."

In December of last year, Gannon reported on continuing pressure by Senate Democrats on the Justice Department to "pursue the investigation into the alleged leak of a CIA officer's identity earlier in the year." Gannon also identified Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee as the two prominent figures leading the push.

At the same time, the Washington Post claimed that "according to their sources, the Central Intelligence Agency believes people in the Bush administration are continuing to release classified information to damage figures at the center of the Niger 'yellowcake' controversy."

According to a subsequent Talon News story by Bobby Eberle regarding the Washington Post piece, "The Washington Post cites an unnamed source who says, 'The CIA is angry about the circulation of a still-classified document to conservative news outlets.' They point to a memo referenced in a Talon News interview of Wilson that suggests his wife was instrumental in his selection for the fact-finding trip to Africa."

Talon News was the only service identified by the Washington Post as having knowledge of the memo's existence.

"I will tell you that the information did not come from inside the administration," Gannon told Talon News. "For something that is supposed to be classified, it seems that this document is easily accessible."

Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported the subpoena of White House records on administration contacts with journalists and news media outlets that are targets in the special investigation.

Gannon declined to comment on whether federal investigators have contacted or interviewed him and said that he has yet to receive a subpoena. Gannon also noted that he has not been contacted by any other news agencies.

"I don't know why I'm on the list of journalists being called before the Grand Jury," Gannon told Talon News. "I have been an outspoken critic of the leak probe and an aggressive questioner of the motives behind it. That seems to have drawn the attention of someone with the authority to issue subpoenas."

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[windchime]

Ping to more on the Wilson/Plame story.

[JohnGalt]

Don't you reference the document in this December 2003 interview posted on your web site? Does the document exist or not, Jeff? You would not even have to reveal a source to answer that question, now would you?

Jeff Gannon, the White House correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for Talon News declined to reveal whether he had seen the memo or had its contents described to him.

While he would not disclose his source, Gannon said, "I will tell you that the information did not come from inside the administration."

"For something that is supposed to be classified, it seems that this document is easily accessible," Gannon added. "Washington is leaking like a cheap umbrella. Just look at what's happening over on Capitol Hill."

[Jeff Gannon]

I do indeed. So talking about a document, that no government agency confirms even exists, is a crime?

[JohnGalt]

Not necessarily, but you claimed to be ignorant as to why you might be subpoenaed in this investigation. That is simply not true.

It's clear that the method by which you obtained the information you referenced in your interview with Wilson could be material in an on going investigation. Who gave you the information? Who told you about the memo? Where did you learn about the memo? That is all relevant if in fact the memo proves to be a forgery, don't you think?

[Jeff Gannon]

Sorry I had to interrupt our back and forth, but I had to go to the WHITE HOUSE for the press briefing.

If the memo is a forgery, then it becomes even less important.

[JohnGalt]

There is an on going FBI investigation into the forged Nigerian Uranium documents.

You were made privy to either a document/information (you have declined to share in what form how you got the information) that suggested a meeting involving Plame and intelligence officials that never occurred.

It is against the law to forge government documents and thus it is only logical that investigators would ask where you obtained the document, or b) who told you about the memo. Investigators need to determine who forged the documents and prosecute the individuals accordingly.

If you think forged government documents are "even less important" I disagree, but what about your credibility as a journalist. Someone set you up, or b) you were duped by the forged document, and you don't care?

I find that hard to believe, and suggest that you are posturing here in cyberspace. You do care, you should care, and I suspect you are not looking forward to your G Gordon Liddy moment that awaits you.

[Jeff Gannon]

You have really gone off the deep end. My question to Ambassador Wilson about the document was intended to get him to comment. It's no different than if I had asked, "There's a place in Nevada called Area 51, even though the government says it doesn't exist. What do you say to that?"

As far as my G. Gordon Liddy moment, I very much look forward to it, but not the one you probably play out with your friends on weekends. G. Gordon Liddy is a great American!

[JohnGalt]

According to the Washington Post article on your web site, you were the only person to even acknowledge the memo's existence. You referenced the memo specifically, i.e. a document--- are you suggesting you would like to have phrased that question differently like "reports suggest your wife..."?

If it is your claim that you never saw the memo, then it must have been someone you trusted who told you about what the memo said, fair? I mean, you are the only person on record stating knowledge that this memo actually exists and you wish to be thought of as a reputable journalist don't you?

And yet you claim you don't know why you might be relevant to the case?

That is simply unconvincing. You know why you are involved and you are probably none too happy with the people or person who got you into this mess, yet I suspect you probably have a pretty good grasp that you are "expendable."

Liddy was a stand-up guy and a patriot, but he was also a felon.

[Jeff Gannon]

You are so far off the mark on this, but I won't suggest you stop, since you reveal yourself to others who might be following this thread.

I will ask you to stop making judgements about my "reputation", however. It is unseemly and beyond what I consider appropriate in this forum.

Further, I have no desire to convince you of anything, especially since I sense that you have some self-righteous theory on the subject. Besides that, you are completely wrong.

[JohnGalt]

"I don't know why I'm on the list of journalists being called before the Grand Jury,"

I have only stated you are not being truthful in this statement, and am suggesting you know exactly why you are being called before the Grand Jury.

I then laid out several reasons why it might be unconvincing for you to suggest that you have no idea why.

Is it still your position that you have no idea, even with a Washington Post article on your web site that states you were the only person to mention a memo, why you have been called before the Grand Jury?

[abner]

I see you are making waves again....

LOL!

[Jeff Gannon]

It is still my position. And you don't know for SURE why, either. You're only guessing, but if you know otherwise for CERTAIN, you are probably in violation of some law regarding secrecy of the Grand Jury.

[JohnGalt]

Obviously, I don't know for sure, but I can at least with some ease understand why you would be asked before a Grand Jury.

You are, according to the WP in December, the only one on record who refers to a 'memo.'

Seems pretty darn obvious when you consider this investigation began at the top and is working its way down.

Do you think they have phone records?

[Jeff Gannon]

I must be doing something right!

[abner]

Me thinks.

Did you get the CD?

[abner]

You guys see this yet?

[Jeff Gannon]

Not yet. When did you send it?

[abner]

About 3 weeks ago...

I guess I will send another.

[ConservativeGadfly]

Oh boy. Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. Now, don't you know that as a respectable talk show host for Rightalk, you have an obligation NOT to make waves, NOT to stir it up?

;)

[Jeff Gannon]

When did RighTalk become NPR? Do I have to improve my vocabulary and start whispering too?