Good point!
I want to post some of Novaks testimony, as transcribed by firedoglake.com and posted by Bahbah yesterday, because this 'nugget' has not be picked up by any of this morning's editorial comment that I have seen.
Also note how hard the prosecutor was trying to prevent this bit of testimony from being made.
Cliff note: Novak's column published on Monday, July 14, 2003, was distributed by the AP to the 100 newspapers that printed it on FRIDAY. JULY 11, 2003. So when many reporters say they learned VPlame's identity from Novak's column, they may have read it any time between July 11 and July 14.
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Libby Live: Mystery Witness
firedoglake.com ^ | 2/12/07 | firedoglake.com
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1783413/posts?q=1&&page=51
Maica note: W is defense attorney Wells; RN is Robert Novak
1:59
W Paragraph says CIA said counterproliferation sent him. Is it fair to say CIA said that.
Fitz Objection
Sidebar.
Novak with hand on chin, looking at screen.
Now sitting back, making his big grumpy frowning face. Puts on his glasses to get started again.
W: I want to see the front of the article. The date. Apparently there is no date.
W The article says Chicago Sun Times, July 14, 2003.
W When did you write your July 14 column
RN [voice slips] The morning of Friday July 11.
W After you wrote it, what did you do?
RN Immediately after finishing it, it was emailed to syndicate.
W What is it
RN Syndicate, sells these to indiv newspapers. An editor goes over it, after a while, calls me back, we discuss further changes I might want to make, changes the editor wants to make. Then in final version, is given to AP for distribution to clients who buy my column. Over 100 newspapers buy it.
W Based on your understanding, when 100 newspapers given column.
Fitz Objection sustained.
W Understanding of how it is distributed.
F Objection, incompetence.
Walton: how do you know?
RN I've been a columnist for 40-some years.
Walton: Overruled
RN Given to AP, it distributes to newspapers that buy it.
W When column given to over 100 newspapers
Fitz: objection
Walton: You don't know specifically what happened.
W With respect to usual pattern,
RN as soon as column is cleared, it is immediately given to AP it's on the wires within an hour.
W Usual practice, when would have it been on the wire.
Fitz Objection
Walton Sustained.
W WRT usual process, after you wrote article, what time on wire?
RN It depends on when I got it to the syndicate. My recollection is since I had busy afternoon, I wanted to finish it before noon, editing before 1, following usual practice it would have gone on immediately thereafter.
W Once it's on the wire, can they print it.
RN It is what is called an embargo, it is not to be printed until Monday morning's newspapers.
W Are people in newsroom permitted to review it.
RN All they have to do is look at it.
W No further questions
51 posted on 02/12/2007 2:29:17 PM EST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
Why would Fitz object to Novak testifying about how his column is distributed?
Fitz certainly tried to suppress this information with his many objections.