Novak Wrote the Story

[erpowers]

Has anyone figured out why Novak is not being threatened with jail time since he is the one who actually wrote the story that outed Plame? Has anyone in the media questioned Fitzgerald on this issue? In addition, since their is an investigation into who was the source of the outing why has Novak not been indicted for outing Plame? Futhermore, has Novak even gone before the grand jury to be questioned about the issue?

[laura888]

1. good questions! anyone? n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Yep.

It is now openly conjecture (a.k.a it's been reported in a MSM article) that he probably provided the testimony requested with the understanding that he would not talk to anyone about what questions were asked, nor what his answers were.

[H2O Man]

5. It's true he talked to

the grand jury, which would keep him from being charged with contempt. However, that is distinct with the question in the OP. Why wasn't he charged with a crime? Simply because he didn't commit a crime. Why all those with common sense and patriotism recognize Novak is a slime, and his article was ugly indeed. Yet it was not illegal, and to be charged with a crime, one must break the law.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Who knows? Maybe Fitz plans to round them up all at one time.

You know, as in "round up the usual suspects."

[NVMojo]

3. he is one expensive whore if he walks away from this with nothing

but notoriety.

[formercia]

4. If he were a target of the Grand Jury

he probably wouldn't be called to testify.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. You got it

Even if he did provide testimony, he still might be under investigation. He either made a deal or pleaded the 5th is my guess.

Fitzgerald has run a virtually leak proof investigation. He's not a Ken Starr grandstanding in front of the cameras. When he does come forward with indictments and he will, it will be major. That's part of the reason for ramping up the terrorist fear again, the WH knows what's coming.

[pinkpops]

6. And the press ciricles the wagons, like this political toon:

The gist is that the press is there to keep us safe from the govt, right? WELL do your job, guys. Judith Miller was/is a water carrier. Novak does the same. Won't some one (in the press) tell us what's going on? SOMEONE in the press has to know.

[Garbo 2004]

7. Writing the story is not a crime and it's been assumed that Novak

has already cooperated with the prosecutor/grand jury which is why his ass isn't in jail. (The scuttlebutt among the press is that Novak already testified.)

[KharmaTrain]

8. Rush To Judgement Here

If Novak told the GJ that he was given that information by either Miller or Cooper from Rove...then Novak didn't pass along the "leak" per se...and what he printed, while it started this shitstorm, isn't what the focus of Fitzgerald's investigation is...it's finding out who leaked Plame's name...to Novak or anyone.

Novak's "cooperated" with the GJ so far and that's why he isn't in the slammer. He's lawyered up to the hilt...not even leaking (and Novak is one of the beltway's worst leakers) his story to another columnist. He's sitting on a bunch of things for Fitzgerald and my bets are the Douchebag of Liberty is covering his ass and has Fitzgerald believing (at this point) that he's cooperating.

Several have noted that this game may not be about Plame anymore, but the steps Rove and others have done to stall Fitzgerald's investigation...perjury, conspiracy and all those goodies. It won't be the outting of Plame that will send anyone to jail here...it's the covering up of who leaked (that's why Miller's in jail) and the efforts made to keep from getting to the truth.

It's always the cover-up... Stay tuned.

[elfin]

10. I do not think it is a crime for a reporter

to divulge the info -- only if a government employee does it. Now if someone can prove he is on the government payroll and thus an employee.......