[Snapple]

Here is the link to the law that covers disclosing CIA operatives
http://foi.missouri.edu/bushinfopolicies/protection.html

Maybe Novak didn't actually talk to the White House/high administration official. Maybe another reporter got the information and told him what was said.

Novak does report what other people claim officials said. For example, in the case of the "leak" Pillar supposedly made at a dinner party, Novak wasn't there. His source was supposedly at the party and then tells Noval what Pillar supposedly said.

[cyncooper]

It would only apply if Plame was that type of operative.

[Terabitten]

Maybe Novak didn't actually talk to the White House/high administration official. Maybe another reporter got the information and told him what was said.

I seem to recall Novak saying that it was more-or-less common knowledge that Plame worked for the CIA. IIRC, he said that it never occured to him that it might be privileged info because, essentially, everyone knew it anyway.