The AP is recycling The Times story their own way, from the Times account.
"On Oct. 1, 2003, Mr. Novak wrote another column in which he described calling two officials. The first source, who is unknown, was described by Mr. Novak as "no partisan gunslinger" who provided the outlines of the story. The second, confirming source, Mr. Novak wrote, responded, "Oh, you know about it."
That second source was Mr. Rove, the person briefed on the matter said, although Mr. Rove's account to investigators about what he told Mr. Novak was slightly different. Mr. Rove recalled telling Mr. Novak: "I heard that, too."
Amounts to the same thing. Novak called Rove, told Rove who had already been told by other journalists.
I think Miller told Scooter who told Rove, who confirmed for Novak.
But I want to know who Judy's covering for.
Although it's unlikely I could ever find the post, a long time ago I said this was the likely scenario. As a former reporter myself, in my FR "rants" about the media through the years, I've tried to educate folks to how reporters work.
They get a tidbit of info here, then run over there and get another tidbit. They snoop, eavesdrop, sneak peaks at what's on people's desks, and otherwise steal info never meant for them. Then they weave a STORY -- as in tale -- about what they find. The STORY may be accurate in whole or in part, or may not. But they rarely are held accountable for it either way. If a reporter ruins peoples lives and careers with false info, the reporter will callously shrug it off.