Armitage Says He Was the Source in C.I.A. Leak

New York Times Terrorist Tip Sheet ^ | 09/07/06 | DAVID JOHNSTON

[conservative in nyc]

Expressing regret for his actions and apologies to his administration colleagues, Richard L. Armitage, the former deputy secretary of state, confirmed today that he was the source who first told a columnist about the intelligence officer at the center of the C.I.A. leak case.

“It was a terrible error on my part,” Mr. Armitage said in an interview. He added, “ There wasn’t a day when I didn’t feel like I had let down the President, the Secretary of State, my colleagues, my family and the Wilsons. I value my ability to keep state secrets. This was bad and I really felt badly about this.”

Mr. Armitage also confirmed that he was the anonymous government official who talked to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward in June 2003 about Valerie Plame Wilson, the C.I.A. officer, in what is the first known conversation between an administration official and a journalist concerning her.

Mr. Armitage, who has been criticized for keeping his silence for nearly three years, said he had wanted to disclose his role as soon as he realized that he was the main source for Robert D. Novak’s column, published on July 14, 2003, which identified Ms. Wilson as a C.I.A. intelligence officer.

But he said held back at the request of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor. “He requested that I remain silent,” Mr. Armitage, said.

Expressing irritation over assertions in some newspaper editorials and on some Internet blogs that, by his silence, he had been disloyal to the Bush administration, Mr. Armitage said that he had followed Mr. Bush’s repeated instruction to administration officials to cooperate with the Fitzgerald inquiry.

“I felt like I was doing exactly what he wanted,” he said.

[conservative in nyc]

The NYT's take on their Armitage interview, for what it's worth.

[paudio]

I hope Novak doesn't suddenly say, "No, he's not my original source".

[AlGone2001]

"But he said held back at the request of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor. “He requested that I remain silent,” Mr. Armitage, said."

No bias on Fitzgerald's part, huh? That seems so criminal.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[But he said held back at the request of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor. “He requested that I remain silent,” Mr. Armitage, said. ]

So what WAS Fitzgerald really up to?

[johnny7]

...for what it's worth.

Zip, zero, nada, ziltch, jack...

[conservative in nyc]

So what WAS Fitzgerald really up to?

I think this is the typical behavior of a prosecuting attorney - asking people who appear before a grand jury not to discuss their testimony with anyone else, under penalty of being brought up on some sort of conspiracy or obstruction of justice charges if they do.

[freedom4me]

"But he said held back at the request of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor. “He requested that I remain silent,” Mr. Armitage, said."

Wasn't it Senator Schumer who said of Mr. Fitzgerald, "He's a prosecutor's prosecutor."

[TexasCajun]

What was the time frame from when Armitage talked to the FBI and when Fitzgerald was appointed?

Who at the FBI knew Armitage was the leaker before the special prosecutor was appointed who then told Armitage to keep quite?

There was a time the FBI knew but did not inform The President?

And the Secretary of State knew before Fitzgerald was appointed as well?

[Billthedrill]

But he said held back at the request of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor. “He requested that I remain silent,” Mr. Armitage, said.

How possibly to interpret that except in the context of a perjury trap? What exactly was Fitzgerald looking for for three years? How much of the taxpayers' money was wasted trying to find some Bush administration hide to tack to the Democrat barn?

Had somebody imbezzled that funding for booze and cheap cigars they'd go to jail but at least they'd have the booze and cheap cigars to show for it. What does the public have to show for this extravagant and apparently unnecessary waste of public money?

[D Rider]

This thread seems to be a duplicate.

[TexasCajun]

The CBS Interview

[Savage Beast]

Why didn't Armitage tell all this at the outset?

[shrinkermd]

Novak, Armitage and Fitzgerald all knew the truth but let the newspapers run wild, Miller to go to jail and Scooter Libby to be indicted. All heroes all--or are they totally without scruples and motivated by narcissism and hate? In any case no honor among them no matter what they proclaim.

[TexasCajun]

From CBS:

Armitage says he didn't come forward because "the special counsel,once he was appointed, asked me not to discuss this and I honored his request.

But why didn't Armitage, Powell or the FBI inform The President before Fitzgerald was appointed?

[Ole Okie]

So what WAS Fitzgerald really up to?

Trying to impeach Bush? That's my guess on his chief (and maybe only) objective.

He needs to resign NOW and spend the rest of his life repenting of what he's done.

[TexasCajun]

People at the FBI knew as well.

[Chode]

that FPOS fitz should be brought up on charges of prosicutorial misconduct and a DOZEN OTHER CHARGES.

then burnt at the stake!!!

[conservative in nyc]

There are no duplicate threads. Three organizations were granted interviews with Richard Armitage today - CBS News, McClatchy Newspapers, and the New York Times Terrorist Tip Sheet. This is the NYTTTS' article on the interview.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Mr. Armitage said he did not recall the June 2003 conversation until Mr. Woodward called to remind him about it following Mr. Fitzgerald’s news conference announcing of Mr. Libby’s indictment."

Right...And the dog ate his homework, too.

[par4]

The only way to put this to a spectacular close would be for the President to publicly request that the democrats who led the charge for this special prosecutor recommend who they feel should be appointed to try Armitage for treason.

I'd almost pay money to watch Schumer and Reed try to babble their way out of that request.