Pincus: Woodward 'Asked Me to Keep Him Out' of Plame Reporting

editor and publisher. ^ | 11/16/05 | Joe Strupp

[Pikamax]

Pincus: Woodward 'Asked Me to Keep Him Out' of Plame Reporting

By Joe Strupp

Published: November 16, 2005 12:45 PM ET

NEW YORK Walter Pincus, the longtime Washington Post reporter and one of several journalists who testified in the Valerie Plame case, said he believed as far back as 2003 that Bob Woodward had some involvement in the case but he did not pursue the information because Woodward asked him not to.

"He asked me to keep him out of the reporting and I agreed to do that," Pincus said today. His comments followed a Post story today about Woodward's testimony on Monday before special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, in which Woodward reportedly disclosed that a senior White House official told him about Plame's identity as a CIA operative a month before her identity was disclosed publicly.

In today's Post story, by reporters Jim VandeHei and Carol Leonnig, Woodward is quoted as saying he told Pincus that he knew about Plame's true identity as a CIA operative in 2003. Pincus said, in the same story, that he did not recall Woodward telling him that, but believed he might have confused the conversation with one they had in October 2003 after Pincus wrote a story about being called to testify.

"In October, I think he did come by after I had written about being called and said I wasn't the only one who would be called," Pincus said, adding that he believed Woodward was talking about himself, but did not press him on it. "Bob and I have an odd relationship because he is doing books and I am writing about the same subject."

Pincus said he did not believe Woodward had purposely lied about their conversation, saying, "I think he thought he told me something." Pincus declined to comment on the other revelation in today's story, namely that Woodward had waited until last month before revealing his conversation with the White House official to Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. "I don't talk about what other people do, other reporters," he said. "Everybody does in this business what they think is the right thing to do."

Pincus also declined to comment on what reaction there has been in the Post newsroom to Woodward's testimony. "I'm not listening," he said.

Woodward did not return calls seeking comment.

Pincus gave his deposition to Fitzgerald in September 2004, in which he spoke about a conversation with a source related to the Plame case, but has never disclosed the identity of the source.

When asked if Woodward's unusual arrangement with the paper, in which he often withholds information and source identities for use in his books, is a problem for the Post, Pincus defended Woodward and said the situation is often a help.

He cited as an example a story Pincus wrote in 2003 just before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which doubted the existence of weapons of mass destruction. "Bob helped to get it in the paper," Pincus said. "He had been hearing the same thing and actually wrote a couple of paragraphs that I adapted into the story."

[Jo Nuvark]

I love your home page. Wonderful! Think on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, faithful, excellent and worthy of praise... What is this? Why... it is Jesus!
(Phil 4:8)

[frankjr]

Um, Fitz's press conference was his first presentation of his case. He was so nervous, it looked like he was holding back tears. Now we all know Fitz made false statements during that press conference. He takes two years to come up with a weak indictment and then afterwards finds out he missed a key piece of the puzzle. LOL.

See ya, Esquire.

[GOPJ]

"He asked me to keep him out of the reporting and I agreed to do that," Pincus said today.

Years ago, a top man at a major newspaper was arrested for DUI - when a reporter asked him where the story should run, he said he was an important person and the story belonged on the front page. And that's where it ran. That's integrity.

The Washington Post isn't quite in the Jason Blair Club, but knowingly not covering something like this is close. Too close. Shame on them.

[Cautor]

"Now we all know Fitz made false statements during that press conference."

As di Genova points out, those false statements aren't just false, they undercut Fitz's entire case. And it puts Fitz in the position of having to correct the record and reconsider whether there is in fact enough evidence to even charge Libby. After all, Woodward says he told Pinkos about Plame and Pinkos says he can't recall. At best, we have a several way he said she said here. Fitz really screwed the pooch in that press conference.

[ohioWfan]

Amen! And thanks!

(I need that verse there to remind myself when I get pulled down by the negativity of politics to set my sights on things ABOVE........in fact, thanks for the reminder of it now. True. Honorable. Right. Pure. Lovely. Faithful. Excellent. Worthy of praise! Cattle prodding accomplished. :)

[ohioWfan]

Oh, those Scrappleface guys can be SO funny! Thanks for the laugh, Cautor! :)

[StAnDeliver]

Hume's replay is on -- Toensing: "What else did he know (Fizzy), what else did he not do."

Reviewing Fizzy's press conflab, went right to Fizzy sticking his foot in his mouth.

Toensing: "Should Walter Pincus be indicted, or should we just acknowledge that people have different memories."

Woodward quoted as saying: "Casual off-handed way."

[Jo Nuvark]

Did I see some funny Chrissy Matthews pictures on FR after the election? Maybe someone could resurrect them.

[StAnDeliver]

diG: "Fitzgerald publically bootstrapped his case to that fact, but under Justice Dept. guidelines, cannot indict when there is a reasonable doubt."

diG: "Plame not a covert [NOC]..."

diG: "The press conference put Fitzgerald out there with bold statement about Libby ('first person') that is now totally untrue...Woodward claims he told Pincus well before...Pincus now says I don't remember...Two people [WaPo] have different recollections of the same conversation...

diG: Fitzgerald's attempt to cast Libby being the 'first person' to unveil Plame, that is now in reasonable doubt and Fitzgerald must dismiss..."I believe that news conference was a disgrace"..."Fitzgerald tried to resurrect the (disproven) covert status at the news conference...An overly aggressive attempt to show the public what Fitzgerald wanted people to think this was all about"..."

[sageb1]

I'm looking outside and wonderful FReepers are looking inside...somehow I think we will meet up.

[Dolphy]

Thanks for the ping, Howlin. Isn't it odd, if not troubling, that someone now recalls a conversation with Woodward? Is Fitzgerald still out there turning over stones? I wonder if he has yet found the time to talk with the first man to allege that Plame had been outed...Corn. From afar the sloppiness of this investigation, despite being wrapped up in Fitzgerald's self righteous earnestness, seems almost deliberate.

[sageb1]

"From afar the sloppiness of this investigation, despite being wrapped up in Fitzgerald's self righteous earnestness, seems almost deliberate"

Fitxgerald spoke for so long that I coldn't even hang around to listen to all of what he said. The length of his interview in and of itself spoke volumes to me.

[Westerby]

"It remains to be seen how it will play out in court"

Unfortunately it won't play in or out of court. The charges against Libby will be quietly dropped with some solemn pronouncements of compassion, costs, and the public interest. Woodward has effectively seen to that.

Which is too bad. It would have been fascinating to see Our Man In Nigeria, the Hon. Jos.Wilson, and his various elves, under both oath and the thumbscrews of Libby's defense team.

Rocks would be overturned - many creepy-crawlies exposed to sunlight. Can't have that happen. Ol' Woody just took one for the team.

[Casloy]

I love how reporters always wrap themselves in the flag of truth to put themselves above the law. That is, of course, when it's not to protect them or their own, then they lie like sleeping dogs.

[sageb1]

"See ya, Esquire."

Especially after their promotion of Clinton as the most influential man in the world? That shows how dam*ed stupid the "world" is.

[sageb1]

Funny. Did you notice Pelosi's new make up and hairstyle today - more importantly, her sweet and unassuming attitude? Who has been promting the libs?

[sageb1]

correction - prompting

[StAnDeliver]

"As di Genova points out, those false statements aren't just false, they undercut Fitz's entire case. And it puts Fitz in the position of having to correct the record and reconsider whether there is in fact enough evidence to even charge Libby. After all, Woodward says he told Pinkos about Plame and Pinkos says he can't recall."

Exactly. For anyone to believe that Woodward's revelations have "no bearing" on the case is absurd.

In fact, let's take the de minimus approach. Say Fizzy doesn't even bother to recalibrate the indictment. Just imagine Pincus' lawyer letting his client, that decrepit, dissembling old man, get up on the stand and string that line of bullshit about wanting to "keep him (Woodward) out of the reporting". Ted Wells is going to jump halfway across the room in a single leap and jam Pincus' statement to Fizzy's investigators right down his gullet, and then call Woodward to the stand to impeach that no-good lying sob.

And the WaPo will be waiting at the courtroom door to hand Walter his gold retirement watch.

Pass the popcorn.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Pincus said he did not believe Woodward had purposely lied about their conversation, saying, "I think he thought he told me something."

Pinkie, you sound very worried about something.......

[Jo Nuvark]

Risky comment forthcoming..

This whole case bears the imprint of the Watergate frame up. It succeeded because there was no way to ferret out the facts and hold the media to account.

Sorry... I liked Nixon.