MSNBC Analyst Says Cooper Documents Reveal Karl Rove as Source in Plame Case

Editori and Publisher ^ | July 1, 2005 | E&P Staff

[summer]

NEW YORK -- Now that Time Inc. has turned over documents to federal court, presumably revealing who its reporter, Matt Cooper, identified as his source in the Valerie Plame/CIA case, speculation runs rampant on the name of that source, and what might happen to him or her. Tonight, on the syndicated McLaughlin Group political talk show, Lawrence O'Donnell, senior MSNBC political analyst, claimed to know that name--and it is, according to him, top White House mastermind Karl Rove.

Here is the transcript of O'Donnell's remarks:

"What we're going to go to now in the next stage, when Matt Cooper's e-mails, within Time Magazine, are handed over to the grand jury, the ultimate revelation, probably within the week of who his source is.

"And I know I'm going to get pulled into the grand jury for saying this but the source of...for Matt Cooper was Karl Rove, and that will be revealed in this document dump that Time magazine's going to do with the grand jury."

Other panelists then joined in discussing whether, if true, this would suggest a perjury rap for Rove, if he told the grand jury he did not leak to Cooper. ...

[summer]

Now I am totally confused - what does this mean if Karl Rove is involved? That leaking Plame's name was not a crime? Was a crime? Or what?

(BTW, I did a search for this article but it did not show up.)

[summer]

FYI.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The FOX All-Stars discussed this a couple days ago, every one, including Mara Liasson said no crime had been committed, not even by Novak.

[USArmySpouse]

I sure hope it wasn't Rove. That would be the democrats' wet dream.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

First off, originally the reporter who leaked the name was supposed to be Bob Novack.

Now it is some guy named Cooper?

Furthermore, this guy from MSNBC seems to be simply speculating that Rove was the source.

This whole thing makes no sense.

[Bommer]

Rove WASN't involved! do you think for 10 seconds that Time Inc would protect Karl Rove, The "Bush Brain"? Or that Rove would talk to Time to out a CIA official? even Novak said it wasn't anyone in the Bush Administration that leaked her name. O'Donnall is a lying sack of guano!

[MizSterious]

Another wrinkle? Or just more speculation? This would be a surprise to me if true--I was sure they'd give up the name much more quickly if it were someone like Rove. I was guessing that they'd maybe even do jail to avoid giving up a Dem name.

[summer]

I noticed that William Safire, in his recent column critical of the jailing of the reporters, also said something about leaking her name was not a crime.

So, if that's the situatino -- then, I don't understand how and why this whole investigation got started, if leaking her name was in fact NOT a crime. Really, the more information that comes out, the more I am just totally confused about this case.

[cripplecreek]

If Rove were guilty of a crime then a whole string of democrats will be facing similar charges

[summer]

I noticed that William Safire, in his recent column critical of the jailing of the reporters, also said something about leaking her name was not a crime.

So, if that's the situation -- then, I don't understand how and why this whole investigation got started, if leaking her name was in fact NOT a crime. Really, the more information that comes out, the more I am just totally confused about this case.

[roses of sharon]

Novak said his was not political, this was the original leaker that started the independent invest.

Cooper and Miller have said their sources released them from confidentiality, but the choose to fight it on principal.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I still won't believe it, not after Dan Rather waved phony documents on 60 Minutes in an effort to bring down the Bush White House two months before election day. It reeks of the same smell. The media is more interested in bringing down the Bush White House, creating news, than they are in reporting the news.

[Dustbunny]

Actually, I think that it total BS that Rove is involved and I'll bet that the documents that were turned over were altered.

[zencat]

I don't believe it for a second.

Lawrence O'Donnell can't mask his hatred for the Bush administration. He's like a male Elenor Clift.

[rollo tomasi]

I bet Lawrence is sweating a little. All this exposer and if he is wrong then off to obscurity in ultra, ultra, ultra-leftwing publications.

[oolatec]

"YOU CREEPY LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[popdonnelly]

Is Lawrence O'Donnell related to Larry O'Donnell, Kennedy associate and past Chairman of the Democratic Party?

[McGavin999]

The democrats demanded an investigation. They got one.

[Former Proud Canadian]

O'Donnell is a total jackass. I trust nothing he says. His cred is ZERO.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Exactly. This all stems from O'Donnell's outright hatred of the Bush admin. He's made no bones about that fact and even showed his true colors on MSNBC last fall.