Prosecutors Are Said to Have Expanded Inquiry Into Leak of C.I.A. Officer's Name

New York Times ^ | April 2, 2004

[Shermy]

More leaks from an investigation into leaks

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[Shermy]

Mr. Wilson, in a July 6, 2003, Op-Ed commentary in The New York Times, disputed Mr. Bush's statement in his State of the Union address that January that Iraq was trying to develop a nuclear bomb and had sought to buy uranium in Africa.

Now, that's not quite true.

[GeronL]

and for the first time raised the possibility of bringing charges peripheral to the leak itself

can't find a leaker?? just charge them with something else.

wala, instant scandal. no evidence required.

INVESTIGATE CONGRESS!

[Shermy]

The suspicion that someone may have lied to investigators is based on contradictions between statements by various witnesses in F.B.I. interviews, the lawyers and officials said.

Who are these "lawyers and officials?" Shouldn't a new investigation be started to root them out?

can't find a leaker?? just charge them with something else.

Novak, etc. are not going to squeal or admit they made up stuff to sound more authoritative - they'll be given a pass.

officer have expanded their inquiry to examine whether White House officials lied to investigators or mishandled classified information related to the case, lawyers involved in the case and government officials say.

Hmmm...Andrea Mitchell and her pal Joe Wilson's big mouth perhaps???

[GeronL]

They want to charge someone in the White House. They will charge someone in the White House whether they find evidence or not. They want an anti-Bush scandal come hell or high water. They will create one if they have to, they do it all the time.

[vbmoneyspender]

Could have predicted this was going to happen. Ahab Walsh redux.

[OneTimeLurker]

Who is they? Isn't the prosecutor a Republican? Let's hope he is on the home team.

[Shermy]

Well, I'm going on the theory (for now) that the first "leaker" to Novak was Richard Clarke...but Novak will never admit it. And that Novak was showing off, and did not have a "malicious" purpose.

But there's some documents floating around...

[GeronL]

doesn't matter if its got an R or a D by its name. Notice how they zeroed in on the White House?? There is no real evidence the 'leak' came from the White House.

[GeronL]

If the Democrats knew this that might explain why he became their poodle so suddenly.

[AntiGuv]

I'm pretty sure there will be at least two indictments, because then the media can say "a White House [staff] under/facing/battling multiple indictments" every chance they get which comes across much more ominous as if it's some vast criminal conspiracy..

[Shermy]

Here's a different document story...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1049592/posts

"...Talon News was the only service identified by the Washington Post as having knowledge of the memo's existence. The newspaper goes on to say that CIA officials have challenged the accuracy of the document purportedly written by a State Department official who works for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

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."

Gannon was referring to private Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committee memos that have been leaked to various media outlets in the last few months.

Gannon's exclusive interview with Wilson focused on the many unanswered questions about the "outing" of his wife.

Gannon points out that other possibilities exist which might explain how Plame's name was revealed without the malice that Wilson believes was retribution for his decision to go public with criticism of the White House.

"When Bob Novak asked why a known partisan like Wilson would be sent on a critical mission to help the administration build its case to go to war with Iraq, the answer might have been that his wife got him the job, not realizing her identity was classified," Gannon said. "It's not as if nepotism is unheard of in Washington."

The Talon News reporter added, "Some people out there see a clandestine war going on between the White House and the CIA. It is generally perceived that a substantial amount of blame for intelligence failures that otherwise might have prevented the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 has been laid at the agency's doorstep by the administration. They suggest the agency is fighting back with an allegation of a wrongdoing in the Plame matter."

[GeronL]

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."

Sounds like thats why they are investigating the White House.

[AntiGuv]

Isn't the prosecutor a Republican?

Patrick J. Fitzgerald has always said that he's an independent, not leaning either Republican or Democrat.

[piasa]

I see a clandestine war going on but it's far bigger than just the CIA, the White House, and the smattering of whiny staffers who have been cut out of the loop.
This is backed by foreigners, too.

[AmericanVictory]

Was Mr. Fitzgerald appointed by Bill Clinton?

Does he have ties to Daly's machine?

Just curious.

[beckett]

There is no real news in the report, so one can only conclude that the NYT is firing a shot across Fitzgerald's bow, warning him about "intense criticism" of he doesn't make the Democrats happy.

[Shermy]

I see a clandestine war going on but it's far bigger than just the CIA, the White House, and the smattering of whiny staffers who have been cut out of the loop. This is backed by foreigners, too.

Huh? You mean since 9/11 the succession of "leaks" about anything to do with Iraq, always dismissing any danger, doubting any connection, underestimating anything done by Saddam, even going so far as to plant and out and out lie in the New York Times about Vaclav Havel denyning the Prague-Atta meeting, all this wasn't the mere creation of a cabal of some well -meaning, peace loving "senior intelligence officials" but orchestrated and directed by a foreign intelligence agency that has penetrated Washington -say, France or Russia or Saudi - whose couintry or countries had much money to lose if Saddam was overthrown?

Hmmm...interesting idea...

[piasa]

Hmm, I forgot about this- did Ruh ever add more detail to his?

To: 1Old Pro
Today Rush said that he had inside information that he couldn't disclose right now, but when the truth comes out about the leaker, people are going to be very surprised. He then elaborated a little bit and said there were a lot of left-over CLintonistas at the State Department. Also, Rush reminded viewers that Wilson has been not only against the war in Iraq, but is/was against the no-fly zone. Wilson repeatedly claimed in recent months Iraq never had WMD. But Rush played audio of Wilson saying before the war that he (Wilson) was afraid Saddam would use WMD. LOL - the guy is a Flipper ala Howard Dean.
99 posted on 09/29/2003 12:34 PM PDT by Peach