MURRAY WAAS: NOVAK PROMISES TO COVER UP FOR ROVE!

[kpete]

CIA LEAK INVESTIGATION
Rove-Novak Call Was Concern To Leak Investigators
By Murray Waas, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, May 25, 2006

On September 29, 2003, three days after it became known that the CIA had asked the Justice Department to investigate who leaked the name of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame, columnist Robert Novak telephoned White House senior adviser Karl Rove to assure Rove that he would protect him from being harmed by the investigation, according to people with firsthand knowledge of the federal grand jury testimony of both men.

In the early days of the CIA leak probe, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft was briefed on a crucial conversation between Robert Novak and Karl Rove.

Suspicious that Rove and Novak might have devised a cover story during that conversation to protect Rove, federal investigators briefed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft on the matter in the early stages of the investigation in fall 2003, according to officials with direct knowledge of those briefings.

................

Weighing the Facts
Rove and Novak, investigators suspect, might have devised a cover story to protect Rove because the grand jury testimony of both men appears to support Rove's contentions about how he learned about Plame. Rove has testified that he did not learn that Plame was a CIA operative from classified information, that he was not part of a campaign with Libby or other White House officials to discredit Wilson or out Plame, and that any information that he provided Novak and Cooper about Plame's CIA job was only unsubstantiated gossip.

MORE AT:
http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0525nj1.htm

[Coexist]

1. thanks

[dennis4868]

2. And so.....

why has Rove not been indictedyet? What the hell is taking so long?

[kpete]

5. INTERESTING ANSWER...

A longtime friend of Rove, who doesn't have firsthand knowledge of the CIA leak case but who knows both Rove and Novak well, doubts that Fitzgerald could get a conviction -- "as long as neither breaks, and there is no reason for them to, no matter how much evidence there is. These are two people who go way back, and they are going to look out for each other."

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0525nj1.htm

[kstewart33]

9. I think it's taking so long because

Fitz is so painstakingly thorough and careful. That's why he has never lost a case as a fed prosecutor.

[hang a left]

37. IMO I believe that Rove has cut himself a deal and has been

cooperating for some time. Rove is very busted. He has had some choices to make. It is obvious to me that Fitz is gunning for Cheney and may even charge him with the underlying crime amongst perjury, obstruction, conspiracy, conspiracy to suborn perjury. I hope he throws the book at Trigger and I hope Rove gets at least 5 years and it destroys everything that means anything to him.

[Last Stand]

51. Wasn't Rove referred to as "person A" or something like that when Libby

got indicted? This kind of description is used for people of interest/suspects, so I'm doubting they don't have some goods on him. It's not like this fiasco is confined to just these 2 men, so whatever story they stick to has to hold up to the rest of the filthy gang. I'm not thinking that they were careful enough about how they went about outing Plame that all their tracks are covered. Libby's already been canned, so lets not give them too much credit for having an airtight plan. I'm sure they hadn't exactly counted on that.

[stop the bleeding]

3. we need to start paying

you - you are brick in this house of DU

thanks kpete, I am having a glass of champagne tonight for all of the people that got justice today in the Enron debacle

[wellstone dem]

17. is that one glass, or one glass for each person?

[Drum]

4. move Novak back

from the edge of the grill toward the hot center!

His is the first dirty name I heard associated with all of this, and I am convinced of his complicity---especially from his conduct and statements made after the Plame case became public.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. Sweat Novak for "obstruction of justice" -- indict his sorry ass

and get him to roll over on Rove.

[deansyawp]

22. One of the many

$64,000 questions of this investigation is why Novak, the ground zero of this whole affair, has been so little iin the news about it. Why were Cooper and Miller under pressure from Fitz but not Novak? Did he roll already, or is something else going on?

[Patsy Stone]

23. I've always thought he folded like a house of cards

way back in the beginning -- to avoid the rush. :)

[deansyawp]

29. That's been my suspicion too

Which is why Waas's suggesting that he swore to protect Unka Karl is somewhat puzzling. Unless he so swore and then folded right away anyway.

[Patsy Stone]

63. That was then.

This is now. Then, Ashcroft was in charge; and all was good for them.

No one counted on Fitz. I think that the fact that Novak's story changed was noticed by people who were looking carefully (unlike Ashcroft, who would have probably turned his head). Combine this (or not) with the evidence about this call (which maybe they've had for a long time?), and then you put the screws to Bob. Who, btw, doesn't seem like he'd do so well in Club Fed. Fitz got him right in the beginning as small potatoes. I think he turned tail and ran. Unless there's more to this that I don't know -- and of course there is.

[me b zola]

62. That would explain his very public drunken meltdown on 'Crossfire'

That really was a thing of beauty. :)

[Patsy Stone]

64. It was. A joy forever.

The meltdown happened on August 4, 2005. So that would mean it's quite possible that Fitz would have had time to gather evidence and present Novak with a deal before he had to prepare Scooter's case for the expiring GJ, I think. Some legal mind will correct me if I'm wrong, I hope.

[hang a left]

38. That most likely has already happened.

[jazzjunkysue]

55. Thanks for that unsavory image. Brain bleach, please!

:hug:

[kstewart33]

6. This is huge, kpete.

Thank you for all the great finds that you post. It's a real service to the DU community.

[speedoo]

7. Whoah!!! Bad news for Rove here. Maybe Novack as well.

Long article, but very worthwhile reading. The conversation suggests obstruction by both parties, some say.

[northamericancitizen]

8. Thanks kpete. You're the most reliable source....nt

[Me.]

10. So Where's The OOJ Charge For No-Facts?

He must be co-operating plenty to escape that.

*shadow government*

[Patsy Stone]

11. Number 5!

Thanks to Murray for keeping up with this mess.

[Patsy Stone]

12. I'm going out on a Tin Foil Hat ledge

From Murray's article: "Rove, Libby, and at least a third administration official told Novak, Cooper, Miller, and Walter Pincus of The Washington Post about Plame's CIA job. Rove has said he discussed Plame with Novak and Cooper."

Libby's words, from the latest Fitzgerald filings including Libby's GJ testimony: "I recall it after the Novak conver -- after the Novak article."

Was that a Freudian slip? Is he Novak's other source? Really, I may be grasping at straws, but these people cause one to resort to drastic conclusion-jumping. :)

[Me.]

13. Nothing May Be Too Far Out There

And this Waas piece gives the public a giant look into the truth of the conspiracy. It also dishes out a well deserved dirtying up of Vakula. Wonder if he'll respond, huffing, puffing sputtering all the way. FitzG. may not be able to get them for conspiracy, oh wait, Rove wanting to save his hide could easily give up his pal. But I would bet that the speck who considers himself a journalist isn't worth a dustpan to the prosecutor, he has bigger fish "to fry".

*shadow government*

[bunny planet]

16. Patsy, thenexthurrah.blogspot.com has something on that little slip of the

tongue, 'Novak conver.........' from Libby Libby Libby.

ooopsy. thenexthurrah.typepad.com

I'm so bad with the linkies

but I'm good at other things
:D

[Garbo 2004]

18. Link to next hurrah blog article here:

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2006/05/libby_forgets_d.html#more

[Patsy Stone]

20. Thanks for the external validation!

Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, dog gone it, people like me! :hug:

KO's on at 9 tonight, btw, not 8.

[bunny planet]

21. 'you like me, you really like me'

[bleever]

24. Grasping at straws

would appear to be Libby's defense strategy, as well as Rove's.

:)

[Patsy Stone]

34. Not

"Throw everything against the wall and see what sticks?" :hi:

[jazzjunkysue]

56. September 29th: The Novak conver-article. New word!!!

WooHoooo!

[Halliburton]

14. kick

:kick:

[yodermon]

19. wait wait!

Murray Waas is a two-bit hack who called Jason Leopold a "Poor Man's Jayson Blair" on his blog, on February 24, 2005!
Read all about it here!
http://www.sweetness-light.com/archive/lunatic-left-reporter-claims-rove-has-been-indicted/#comment-22763

Fabricate a story, commit a journalistic felony, and then write a book blaming everyone other than yourself for your crimes. Once upon a time, old school journalists who fabricated their copy, say the Washington Post’s Janet Cooke, moved on to lives of shame and obscurity. But that was then and this is now. Stephen Glass earned a million dollar advance for his novelistic account of his time as journalistic fabulist at the New Republic, although the public was to reject him simply by not buying his book. Jayson Blair hoped to do the same, but sales of his book also fell flat. Now comes Jason Leopold.

or see Murray Waas's blog entry here!
http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2005/02/jason-leopold-poor-mans-jayson-blair.html
What?! 404, you say?

OH, THAT'S RIGHT!! The oh-so courageous Murray Waas deleted this hit-piece from his blog, but not before it got mirrored all over the net, including freeperville.

What, you don't believe me? His archived blog entries, like http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2005/02/boss-is-back.html has the archived link in the "previous posts" column.

We all know that Jason Leopold is the epitome of journalistic integrity, therefore no piece by Murray Waas is worth its weight in the electrons hitting your eyeballs.







:sarcasm:

[KittyWampus]

53. Your Point? I am sick of the pissing contests between DU'ers and Blogger

Journalist Wannabees.

[Snivi Yllom]

25. meanwhile Rove is still not indicted

but maybe soon!

[stop the bleeding]

26. I liked this part of the article from Geneva Overholser

Geneva Overholser, a journalism professor at the University of Missouri, questioned the propriety of Novak's using Rove as a source on the Plame story if, in fact, Rove had passed along only unsubstantiated gossip.

"It's very hard for me to believe that any journalist would write a story of such importance based on someone making an offhand comment that 'I heard that too,'" Overholser, who is a former chair of the Pulitzer Prize board and a former editor of The Des Moines Register, said in an interview. "A comment like that could mean that it's just the gossip going around. That means something very different than an affirmation to go with a story. If that was the basis for Novak's story, it was the slimmest of reeds."

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. ***Story also in EDITOR & PUBLISHER, and OLBERMANN will cover it tonight**

From today's Countdown emailed newsletter about tonight's program:

Murray Waas, who has broken so many key stories in the Plame/CA leak case for the National Journal, has been rather quiet this month, but emerged today with another bombshell. On September 29, 2003, three days after it became known that the CIA had asked the Justice Department to investigate who leaked the name of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame, "columnist Robert Novak telephoned White House senior adviser Karl Rove to assure Rove that he would protect him from being harmed by the investigation, according to people with firsthand knowledge of the federal grand jury testimony of both men," Waas writes."Suspicious that Rove and Novak might have devised a cover story during that conversation to protect Rove, federal investigators briefed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft on the matter in the early stages of the investigation in fall 2003, according to officials with direct knowledge of those briefings.... http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002575957

The above link in the Keith Olbermann/Countdown emailed newsletter about tonight's show is to this Editor and Publisher article:

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002575957

National Journal: Novak Assured Rove He Would Protect Him

By E&P Staff
Published: May 25, 2006 1:20 PM ET

NEW YORK Murray Waas, who has broken so many key stories in the Plame/CIA leak case for the National Journal, has been rather quiet this month, but emerged today with another bombshell.

On September 29, 2003, three days after it became known that the CIA had asked the Justice Department to investigate who leaked the name of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame, "columnist Robert Novak telephoned White House senior adviser Karl Rove to assure Rove that he would protect him from being harmed by the investigation, according to people with firsthand knowledge of the federal grand jury testimony of both men," Waas writes.

"Suspicious that Rove and Novak might have devised a cover story during that conversation to protect Rove, federal investigators briefed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft on the matter in the early stages of the investigation in fall 2003, according to officials with direct knowledge of those briefings....

"Sources said that Ashcroft received a special briefing on the highly sensitive issue of the September 29 conversation between Novak and Rove because of the concerns of federal investigators that a well-known journalist might have been involved in an effort to not only protect a source but also work in tandem with the president's chief political adviser to stymie the FBI."

(snip)

ed:sp

[stop the bleeding]

28. at 9pm no less this is getting HUGH!

HUGH I tell ya!

[Nothing Without Hope]

30. Thanks for that - TONIGHT'S OLBERMANN SHOW IS 9 PM IN ALL TIME ZONES

The re-air will be at the normal time, however. From today's Countdown email:

PROGRAM NOTE: Countdown on 9 pm eastern tonight, because of the President's evening news conference with Tony Blair. The show will be airing an hour later in all other times zones as well. (The re-air on the West coast will be the usual time, however.)

[bleever]

50. Thanks, Hope.

:hi: Nice to see you.

[Nothing Without Hope]

60. bleeve! So good to see you!

:hi:

[kpete]

31. Is it ok to be overwhelmed with hopeful anticipation?

[symbolman]

35. Not only that

but you deserve front row parking for the links you bring, which are news to many of us..much of what you bring to this site pans out with media considered viable by myself, and I've been watching the spin capability and quirks of these different news sources for many years. I do have tremendous respect for Olbermann - tho he brings on some flakes like Dana Milbank, who has No sense of humor, and as the old song says, "If he has any Elvis in him.. HE'S TRYING to get OUT.." :)

Good find.

Let's not forget that Tweety and Russert Tim "potatoehead" was involved as well.. Timmie boy was sitting there interveiwing Novak like HE HIMSELF had nothing to do with the Plame affair and he was up to his ass in Plame Investigation alligators.. scum..

I don't see all media as syncophants, or sitting next to their Karl Rove Facts "machine" while it glows Cherry red.. we need to make those distinctions, otherwise the blanket "All media is lying" keeps us from trusting anyone - tho there can be contention as to exactly WHO we each trust, can't let that keep our eyes From the PRIZE, eh?

I got to catch a man that Novak assaulted on the ice in New Hampshire during the coldest winter in recorded history, outside of a restaurant where Novak and co were doing a crossfire episode.. the man was hassling Novak through out the show, calling him a "Traitor" during quiet moments, and then once again outside.. when Novak went BONKERS, ran back, SHOVED the man, then pulled back his fist.. Begala DRAGGED Novak onto the CNN Bus and saved him..

Unfortunately our camera person was SHORTER than me and filmed my back, and not Novak's face, which was like something I'd never seen, and I've worked in two mental institutions, I'll never forget it..

We filed assault charges that evening against Novak - he's so goddam dirty, and such a sell out that anything is possible.. and don't forget that HE pretty much DIRECTLY OUTED Brewster & Jennings not long after that, if not the very next day after the Plame outing.

AND he walked off a tv show saying, "THis is Bullshit" while a copy of a "WHO'S WHO" sat on the table of the interviewer - he'd made the claim, one of many that he'd learned of her NAME in that book, a total baldfaced lie.. cost him his job.

This will all make a great film someday if we ever get all the FACTS about it, which hopefully will be supplied by Fitz's findings, and filings.

Good catch Kpete, once again!

[bleever]

46. Not just Hugh;

Series too!

[Nothing Without Hope]

61. even some of the morans might notice...

...nah. They'll be getting their propaganda fix from Faux, and you can bet this story will not be reported there.

[Kingofalldems]

32. How did anyone find out about the conversation?

Did Novak tell someone?

[H2O Man]

36. Your first question

is particularly important: where is this information coming from? Let's take a closer look.

It puts Novak in a bad light, but doesn't necessarily harm Rove. In fact, it has information that comes from Rove's discussions with investigators that indicates it couldn't come from Novak.

Another interesting question is why it's coming out now. Who would be familiar with what Rove told investigators about Novak contacting him, and what Rove thought about it? Why would this come out now?

[Me.]

40. Froggie Comes A'Courtin' ?

*shadow government*

[mountebank]

41. Another, even more desperate 11th hour attempt to save Rove's ass?

Apparently they barely averted an indictment the last time, thanks to Viveca Novak. This time another Novak is being thrown to the lions.

Is it coming from Luskin?

[H2O Man]

44. it's odd.

Paragraphs 5 through 8 give a lot of details from Rove's camp. let's look at the phrases that begin each paragraph:

5: "Rove testified to the grand jury ..."

6: "Rove also told the grand jury..."

7: "Rove told the grand jury ..."

8: "Asked during his grand jury appearance ...."

Paragraph 9 consists of three sentences. Novak's attorney, Ashcroft, and a spokesperson for Mr. Fitzgerald make clear they can not comment on the story.

Who does that leave who would have inside information on what Rove testified to regarding this? Who would know that Rove told the grand jury that the call from Novak was a "curious conversation," and that he didn't know what to make of it? I would speculate that the number of people in a position to do that is limited.

[kpete]

45. Hadley?

just guessing...

[H2O Man]

48. In the hearings

only each witness is present when he/she testifies. So we can limit this to people that Rove told. My guess -- and it is only a guess -- is that Mr. Rove's attorney made clear to him that he not discuss his testimony with other people involved in the case.

[bleever]

49. Very limited.

Might one conclude that if Rove is providing evidence about his cover story with Novak, that Rove must be at the point where he knows that conspiracy charges are a given, and the only question is who will be taking the biggest fall?

[H2O Man]

52. A lot of people

have been focused on the Cooper conversation. I think that the over-all operation was in play when Rove last chatted with the grand jury. As always, I think you are looking in the right direction.

[jazzjunkysue]

57. I think you're onto something. His ass is grass. Desperation hits the circ

circular air ventillation system.

[sofa king]

67. Karl would know.

And Karl is just about the only person who isn't prevented from keeping it confidential. He can talk all about his testimony if he so wishes.

However, the way the article is structured I get the impression that Waas is working from a transcript, because of the way he cites Rove's recollection of Novak's statements.

[stop the bleeding]

42. These are good questions and why now?

Is this part of a plea deal? Is this part of the cycle of disinformation?

More questions leads to more questions

[deansyawp]

43. Indeed, most of the leaks in this case

seem to be coming from the Rove camp, and this given what is being said likely does too, seeing as it says, "according to people with firsthand knowledge of the federal grand jury testimony of both men."

So, as you ask, why?

[H2O Man]

47. Yep.

Mark Corallo is identified as a "spokesman for Rove." A more accurate description of his role is "crisis manager." He and Mr. Luskin seem to be busy.

[Me.]

58. As David Shuster Most Specifically Said

"a paid spokesman"

*shadow government*

[AlCzervik]

33. Once again Murray Waas has the goods.

[Zen Democrat]

39. Everytime I heard that "unsubstantiated gossip" alibi .....

I think of old Bob Woodward decrying the Plame case as "mere gossip" the night before the Libby indictment.

[jazzjunkysue]

54. Rove had been one of the "two senior administration" officials who had bee

been sources for the July 14, 2003, column in which Novak outed Plame as an "agency operative."

Sweeter words were never spoken.

Calling Prosecutor Fitzgerald...

[robbedvoter]

59. Novak to Larry Ling:

"So I say, 'Don't bug me. Don't bug Bob Woodward. Bug the president as to whether he should reveal who the source is.'
Robert Novak

[Quixote1818]

65. This is HUGE who let this sink to the third page?

This should be all over the national news, talk shows, and on every Americans mind. I can't believe this is getting so little play??????


I had to go back three pages to find this just so I could kick it back to the top. That amazes me!

[CoffeeCat]

66. I keep returning to this column by Novak...

Novak's 9/22 column, "Bashing Bush in Aspen" is even more interesting now.

Was Novak communicating to the White House that he would no longer
remain silent about the Plame situation?

http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/robertnovak/2005/09/22/155676.html

ASPEN, Colo. -- For two full days, George W. Bush was bashed. He was taken to task on his handling of stem cell research, population control, the Iraq war and, especially, Hurricane Katrina. The critics were no left-wing bloggers. They were rich, mainly Republican and presumably Bush voters in the last two presidential elections.

(snip)

U.S. News & World Report disclosed this week, with apparent disdain, that presidential adviser Karl Rove took time off from the Katrina relief effort to be at Aspen. He was needed as a counterweight. I settled in for serious fireworks, expecting Bush-bashers to assault his alter ego at the conference's final session. However, direct confrontation with a senior aide must have been more difficult than a remote attack on the president. It would be a shame if Rove returned to Washington without informing George W. Bush how erstwhile friends have turned against him.

(more at link)