So why isn't his SECOND wife, Jacqueline G., listed?
She seems to be more covert than Plame.
Posted on 11/03/2005 7:57:10 AM PST by InvisibleChurch
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005 10:17 a.m. EST Questions Raised about Tim Russert's Story
NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert told Leakgate probers that he had no idea Joe Wilson's wife Valerie Plame was a CIA employee before her name surfaced in Robert Novak's fateful July 14, 2003 column, and that he was stunned upon learning that Lewis "Scooter" Libby claimed he got that information from him.
But an account by senior NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell raises questions about whether Mr. Russert may have known about Plame's employment well before the Novak column.
On Oct. 3, 2003, Mitchell was a guest on CNBC's now-defunct "Capital Report," where she was asked by host Alan Murray:
"Do we have any idea how widely known it was in Washington that Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA?"
Mitchell replied: "It was widely known among those of us who cover the intelligence community and who were actively engaged in trying to track down who among the foreign service community was the envoy to Niger. So a number of us began to pick up on that."
Mitchell's "widely known" characterization flatly contradicts assertions last Friday by Leakgate Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who repeatedly insisted that Plame's association with the CIA "was not widely known."
But perhaps more importantly, if Plame's work was an open secret in media circles [according to Mitchell], how is it that her boss, Mr. Russert, who - as NBC Washington bureau chief was presumably monitoring developments in "the intelligence community" as they related to the Wilson story - would have been oblivious to this same "widely known" information?
In fact, according to the text of Fitzgerald's indictment, Libby's version of events more closely matches Mitchell's on the subject of who knew about Plame's employment.
Fitzgerald said Libby claimed:
"During a conversation with Tim Russert of NBC News on July 10 or 11, 2003, Russert asked LIBBY if LIBBY was aware that Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA. LIBBY responded to Russert that he did not know that, and Russert replied that all
the reporters knew it." [Page 11 of Libby's Indictment]
None of this means that Mr. Libby actually told the truth and that Fitzgerald's star witness against him, Tim Russert, perhaps didn't.
But Mr. Russert might want to clear the air and explain how he managed to stay in the dark about key information in a case that was the talk of the town in early July 2003 - while the same information was "widely known," according a senior reporter who worked under him.
The thrice married Wilson (with four children) who retired early from the State Department at the top of his career, who purchased a $750,000 house in Georgetown in 1998 (a divorce and marriage in the same year along with a retirement,) who had business dealings in Africa,and an ex-second wife who was a paid, registered lobbyist for Gabon (1998-2002) seems like a very inviting target for an investigation.
Libby's trial, if fair, will likely reveal that Fitz was overzealous, at best.
It should also reveal that Plame is the real dirty bird in the government here, and she used her unprincipled little husband in her clever plan to undermine the administration.
bttt
I'm still waiting to know how you know with such certainty that all reporters knew about Wilson's Wife? ALL is a pretty broad number. Does that include the crime reporter for the lower income portion of DC? Those that attend state dinners like Greenspan's wife at NBC maybe but that would be because of special events like state dinners and embassy parties and perhaps covering the state department like Andrea Mitchell does. Those that cover politics like Cooper are unlikely to run in those circles. So what is your proof????
Coopers testimony and Rove hasnt refuted it was that Rove was attempting to warn Cooper about going off too far on a limb in writing about Wilson because what Wilson was saying was not true. He wasnt sent by the Vice PResident, he was sent by his wife who works at the CIA. Rove didnt give up her name but he did more than say I heard that too. I heard that too is what Libby was supposed to have said.
Two of Imus's regulars have contradictory tales. Is the "I-man" going to go down that road?
all the reporters involved in this, and some other DC media insiders apparently. David Corn wrote about it, Andrea Mitchell made comments about it, Judith Miller has had long established contacts in CIA regarding WMD, Coopers wife is a high ranking Clinton advisor. They all talk to each other, the idea that they were all just a bunch of ignorant doofuses who just walked into this story, all knowing nothing - is simply not believable - except to Fitzgerald apparently.
You forget, Libby also assumed they were a bunch of doofuses and look who's been indicted for hiding behind a reporters shield.
How would indicting Russert damage President Bush?
They set up a fake company, Brewster Jennings, for her to "work for" to hide her true identity.
Libby/ Marc Rich's lawyer until Dec. 2000
Libby friends with Judtih Miller
Libby released Miller - NYT - but she went to prison anyway
Mary Matalin m. James Carville -
Mary works with Libby and for Cheney
James Carville hates Bush & out there screaming No WMD!!!
Wilson m. Plane & friends with Cooper m. Grumwald
Cooper - NYT
Grumwald adviser to hillary clinton
Russert m. Maureen Orth
Orth works at Vanity Fair - written articles on EVERYONE of the players
Russert works for NBC
Russeert claimes he did not know of Valerie Plane (Wilson's wife)
Wilson worked for John Kerry during 2004 election
Wilson claimed Cheney sent him on "The Trip"
Yet all long - Wilson knew his wife, Valerie Plame, sent him
What I've left out is ---
Andrea Mitchell m. Greenspan
Andrea acts like this is all old news.
Mark Levin was quoting a newsmax story tonight where they had a transcript of the Andrea Mitchell CNBC interview about how widespread the prior knowledge was about Plame. I am not sure if there is a thread on it, but from what Mark quoted - they all knew, all of them, including Russert.
And you know this because Mark and Newsmax said so? Do they have quotes from Russert or pictures? Didnt think so. Personally I dont think Mark or Newsmax (2nd hand news) have any idea what's in Russerts head and when.
the thread is up, I pinged you on it. There is almost zero chance that Russert didn't know, based on how Mitchell characterized it. read it.
and before you post again "how do you know". that was Fitzgerald's job to investigate that. had he done so, he would have been able to establish that all these reporters claims of total ignorance are impossible to believe. Now I agree, that alone does not mean Libby is off the hook, but the reporters do not hold the high ground here either.
bttt
Good question.
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