Justice Department Launches Full Criminal Investigation

[Vikingking66]

...Into the Leak of a C.I.A. Officer's Identity

Newsbreak on NY Times website: http://www.nytimes.com/

[Maeve]

1. GOOD!!!!! But I'm still skeptical they will find anything

The carpet may have a new lump when they are done sweeping....

[goforit]

23. Swept under is right..........

But we the people should launch our own investigation as well.

[displacedtexan]

2. jeff greefield now on cnn

saying these are republicans (cia and justice) launching the investigation.
duh. you don't launch an investigation of an analyst, do you?
her NAME was published. they can't ignore this fact, or joe wilson and his wife will set them straight.

[ewagner]

4. DUH IS RIGHT

MSNBC is still saying there is a "distinction" between undercover agent and analyst............doesn't anybody get it? The CIA would not have asked for the investigation if there wasn't a crime!

[underpants]

5. Our local news said "analyst" this morning too

Oh all of a sudden she is just and analyst and the law might not cover her. TOTAL BS!

[HereSince1628]

22. TPM posted Whitehouse memo that says undercover CIA employee

.

[NoKingGeorge]

28. Does the law say 'only certain types covered'?

I glanced over the law and I did not see exclusions. Something like
anyone who reveals the identity of CIA employee...
Also, George Tenet asked for an investigation months ago, now he put it in writing.

[underpants]

31. FOX was spinning it that Tenet didn't rquest an investigation

See My long post below (# ?)

and WElcome to DU :hi:

Their reproter (I know I know it's Fox ) said that this was handled through the normal CIA legal channels.

BS!

[goforit]

36. Why would Faux deny Tenent ordered this?

To show that Wilson's wife is out on her own Limb or
to show that Tenent is on th WH side and united?

[underpants]

38. I think there are some automatic triggers if he does

Or it might be Colin Powell, if he asks for an inquiry the DoJ's hands are tied.

Anyway it might just have been a way to spin this as routine and that Tenet (who I guess suddenly is the greatest CIA head ever) isn't really into it.

[Jacobin]

24. This is the crux of the matter

If she hadn't been undercover, THERE WOULD BE NO INVESTIGATION.

Guess its predictable that the media would let this zoom right over their heads.

[underpants]

27. How would dissenters have been scared if she was only an analyst?

NO sorry that doesn't make since. They did this as intimidation and there would be no intimidation if there wasn't peril attached to it.

Exposing a "beaurocrat" not only wouldn't make any difference to Wilson it wouldn't have been spicy enough to put into a column. There is an old saying that if you want to keep something out of the papers in DC unclassify it, reporters need the "classified" word to sell the story to their editors. Some reporters have seen around this in the last 10 years and now you see "recently unclassified documents" used.

[Tuttle]

3. Will Novakula fall on his sword???

time will tell

Tut-tut

[CheshireCat]

15. Never

will Novackula fall on his sword. He's an "I, me, Mine" man if ever there was one.

I don't think journalists should have to reveal their sources, so reluctantly I have to apply this to Novak. However, I would sure like to see him taken down a knotch!

[Dhalgren]

21. I disagree.

The sole purpose of this exposure was simply to damage these people for one other reason than punishment for opposition. This wasn't some "Pentagon Papers" level expose - this was dirty, backstabbing, weassel-works. I say throw that slimey Novaks in the slammer with "Big Tilly" until he decides to spill!

[CheshireCat]

43. I agree, but

how do we write a law to distinguish between good leaks and bad?

I would rather Novak get away with it than to stifle some "Petagon Papers" expose in the future.

[underpants]

6. WE NEED A NAME!

The person or persons who leaked the information were:

______________________________________

______________________________________

In the end those lines have to have names on them.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

7. the timing is transparently political

What on earth has DOJ learned in the last three days that it wouldn't have been able to find out in the last two months? The only reason this is now full scale is because it's in the headlines. The timing of this only shows the transparently political nature of Bush's DOJ.

[Walt Starr]

10. It also demonstrates there is definitely a conflict of interest

Special Prosecuter is the only route or else this is an admission of wrondoing in the whitehouse.

[displacedtexan]

13. excellent point!

i also believe that valerie has nothing to lose now by coming forward to explain her background.

[ModerateMiddle]

19. In fact she does have something to lose

We all do. What I read in the WaPo, which makes sense between all of the different descriptions about what Plame does - is that she USED TO BE an undercover operative working overseas, but that she is NOW working with WMD stateside. However, her coming out PUBLICLY, as in her picture in the news not just her name - could spell disaster for anyone in a foreign country who worked with her in the past.

She needs to let Wilson push this. I'm sure HE knows what she did.

[shockingelk]

18. but the effect of it ...

Now that it's in the headlines that the White House is the target of a "full criminal investigation" - it cannot be buried ... the truth of the whole confusing affair will eventually be revealed somehow.

[snippy]

25. Stonewalling by DOJ was probably why the story was leaked.

The leaker of the story of the CIA request for an investigation probably did so because he thought that DOJ was not doing its job.

[ModerateMiddle]

8. Does anyone believe this isn't a political decision?

The CIA filed it's request for an inquiry in "late July". This is (very) late September. Does anyone believe that this "inquiry" would have gone ANYWHERE without the press screaming about it?

Funny timing. And even more indication that the Justice Department under Ashcroft can't be trusted to deal with this.

[Vikingking66]

11. Hey, I don't care when they do it

It can't end well for them.

[underpants]

12. FOX (surprise) and NBC poo-pooing this a political MEDIA CHECK

Fox News lead into this with a light hearted story and were actually laughing about it on the lead-in. They went to their correspondent Kelly Whoever in DC and he said that technically (all of a sudden they are into details) Novak never said she was a CIA undercover operative. They spun it as simply politics and I was waiting for Rove's name to come up, finally it did. They also said that Tenet never signed a request to look into this it was handled through the normal legal channels in the CIA.I wonder how many Fox watchers know who Rove is and how much influence he exerts.

Our local TV station said she was a "analyst".

The NBS News at the top of the hour said,,"President Bush chose not to answer question yesterday and stay clear of this political firestorm".

Lauer had Senator Schumer on the Today Show and went right at him. Lauer pointed out that no one from the WH or the Repubes agreed to be on the showand then tried to turn that around asking the Senator why he was on? Schumer could see what was coming and said that this is a serious security breach and it needs to be looked at immediately.


Lauer asked why can't the DoJ handle the investigation becasue the Special Prosecutor law which has expired (emphasis kust like that) required the AG to collect all the facts and determine if laws had been broken and even IF they had why a Special Prosecutor, couldn't they handle it (in an Aw come on kinda way).

Schumer would have none of it. He said that Ashcroft is too close to the President and that without a SP the President could kill the investigation at any time and that the conflict of interest that IS present would undermine the credibility of any result it came up with.

Lauer then showed the quote of MCClellan saying,~"If anyone in this White House did that they would not be in this White House!!!" Lauer follows with "Pretty strong words!" Schumer ignored the whoring and went on to say that this is serious and needs attention now. He pointed out that he firs tbrought this up on July 22d (something Fox forgot to tell it's viewers as they said that it was only coming to light now).

Lauer then asked him "Isn't this all just politics?" Schumer of course said no it is about national security and transparency.

When Lauer thanked him for being on Schumer didn't say anything he just stared into the camera, could have been a cut audio I don't know.

[diplomats]

20. Sounds like Schumer did a great job

under some trying circumstances. This is ridiculous. Has the press forgotten Whitewater and how Clinton was forced to ask for an independent counsel for nothing more than an obscure land deal? This is a breach of national security, for God's sake!

[underpants]

26. They've used "national security" as a band aid and now they breached it

Sorry can't give the details on the energy meetings it may compromise NATIONAL SECURITY

Sorry we can't tell you the 'Murkan people about the evidence we have against Saddam becaue well you since 9/11 it may compromise NATIONAL SECURITY

Sorry we can't tell the representatives OF the people or even the Senate Intelligence Committe about the evidence we have concerning this war because it may compromise NATIONAL SECURITY

Oh but now national security may have been breached.

[Rose Siding]

30. It is politics in one respect

The felony was an act of political retribution. Fed power, out of control, was used by the WH to intimidate any dissent in the CIA- the dissent being Wilson's going public with the truth about Niger.

It is like the repubs in TX using the feds to hunt down political opponents writ large!: The illegal use of power to intimidate political opponents.

It will be spun six ways in an effort to benefit BushCo- My FAVORITE incoming spin- Torrie Clark- the Pentagon's new inbed at cnn- tried to make the point about how rummy had come down so hard on leakers. Tipping, tipping toward how secrecy is vital. THIS admin will have the gall, I'll bet, to use this to advocate for more SECRECY in govt.

[goforit]

29. Spin/spin/spin........the black widows are strengthenning their web.

Thanks for giving us this whoring. I haven't watched Faux in
2 years and status quo still remains.

Schumer has been oustanding, sharp, and nothing but class.
Wilson on 'Buchanan and Press' has been nothing but class and
never attacked Novak. He just felt that the WH needs to review
the law and thighten up their lips.

And look at the WH.....Deny,deny,deny. Over,over and over.

[newyorican]

9. Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!

deconstructing yesterdays WH Press Briefing and talking about a "felon Roving around the WH".

Just had an extensive replay of yesterdays WH breifing.

www.democracynow.org

[Gunit_Sangh]

14. re: We Need a Name

The peron or persons who leaked the information were:

"Deep Gusher"

[LEW]

16. Just heard on MSNBC that

WH sent out a memo this morning that there will be a full investigation and all are to cooperate....more to come..

[dweller]

17. LOL the *moron vowed to get to the bottom of it.

suprise WhistleAss, you are AT the bottom of it.

dp

[MoonAndSun]

32. Here is the latest from yahoo- memo from WH Counsel to Staff!!

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=1&u=/ap/20030930/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak>


snip>The White House staff was notified of the investigation by e-mail after the Justice Department decided late Monday to move from a preliminary investigation into a full probe. It is rare that the department decides to conduct a full investigation of the alleged leak of classified information.



this is now getting good!!

[goforit]

34. Tell me how is this good when you are investigating yourself?

:tinfoilhat:

[MoonAndSun]

35. It's good because this new info about the WH counsel telling

staffers not to destroy anything will be another talking point on the news broadcasts. And the cable news loves nothing more then new stories coming out on this particular subject. Every new development keeps this story on the front pages and top of news shows.

That's why it is important.

[robbedvoter]

39. Rate it! (Freepers do). Funny about Wilson backtracking on Rove

I watched him all day long and didn't notice any backtracking.

[Drifter]

33. I'm sure that the DoJ ...

has already received the report that they will be creating.

Cheers
Drifter

[JNelson6563]

37. If the whores bought their own spin

that there is absolutely nothing wrong with exposing this mere "analyst" then why aren't they using her name commonly and the one time I saw a picture of her it was all blurry so you couldn't see her.

Obviously they know better.

I saw NoFacts with his little performance yesterday....laughable. Claims he doesn't like the attention from the media but later says "but I know who the source is!" staring into the camera for high-drama moment.

In his column he says he got this from "two senior officals" but tries to play it down as an aside in a related discussion. Claims "no one called me with this information", sticking to that "it was mentioned in passing" routine. So we have the admin. officials he claims as sources but says it wasn't someone from the WH. (?) Downplays info as unimportant aside but took the time to look into it by calling the CIA. Unimportant? N'ary worth mention? Why follow-up?

Also, if it was merely an aside in different discussion how did this all come to be? According to the WP they ("admin. officials")couldn't give the story away to six other journalists and here's ol' NoFacts jumping on it as it's dropped like a crumb within a discussion???

Hmmmm. Curious.

Julie

[underpants]

40. Very good points

Also DiIulio's letter to Suskind at Esquire pointed out the interns and even the staff are not used for any kind of analyis or anything else for that matter. These decisions are all made at the top and the political arm is running the show.

[davsand]

41. Since when is classified info an aside?

JNelson6563 wrote,"...In his column he says he got this from "two senior officals" but tries to play it down as an aside in a related discussion. Claims "no one called me with this information", sticking to that "it was mentioned in passing" routine..."

Since when is "claasified" info supposed to be thrown around as an aside? That quote from Novacula makes this even worse in my mind! Is it common pratice of this regime to just casually discuss who our CIA folks are? "By the way...so and so the spy called me for drinks the other night..."

Is THAT their idea of a strong national scurity?

Yikes! I feel SO much safer now!

Laura

Edited to turn off the bold html tag!

[classics]

42. Soo the search is on for a patsy.

Will the whores know who it is first? Will they start spinning guilt onto the fall guy before its even announced?

[Nottingham]

44. Well It didn't take long for a full investigation when Media gets

out!! Looks like Aschcroft was sitting on it and boy did he move fast now after a threat of Independant Investigation! :bounce:

[E_Zapata]

45. Prediction: a decent civil servant will find somethng criminal

and Asscraft will try to suppress it.

And the conscience of the people will guide the civil servant to whistleblow on whistle-ass.

and we will get an independent investigator assigned to review the entire bush cabal.

Miracles can happen.

[chromotone]

46. Hey!…Cut Ashcroft some slack!

I hear he’s already investigating New Orleans prostitutes and Northern California medicinal-marijuana users.

He's hot on the trail!