Thursday, August 19. 2004
Where is Novak?
I've been wondering why we haven't heard about Robert Novak lately. Why is it that Washington Post and New York Times reporters are going to jail for refusing to disclose the leak that 'outed' Valerie Plame, while the one journalist who actually WROTE the story doesn't seem to be in any trouble.
The answer, of course, was pointed out the the Daily News. Novak may very well have been called in front of the Grand Jury. We can't know, because Grand Jury hearings are secret. So, assuming Novak was called (as he would HAVE to be), he had a choice that Cooper and Miller just didn't have.
He must have taken the Fifth. He has that as an option, because the one thing we KNOW is that Novak is involved in a conspiracy to commit a federal felony, and therefore doesn't have to say anything that might incriminate himself.
Tim Russert took another way out, as soon as he was threatened with jail -- he took the 'out of the loop' defense. "Honest, judge, I really don't know who the leak is. Nobody told me!".
But Cooper and Miller wouldn't take that option. They ARE "in the loop" and were given the tip - and chose not to print the name of a covert CIA operative. Therefore, having knowledge of a crime, but having refused to be a part of the crime, they have left themselves without the Fifth Amendment shield.
The answer, of course, it to quit going after the legitimate journalists and put Novak on trial for his crime. Let's see if, when confronted with actual jail time, he gives up his source.
And I hope that when he DOES name names, the first name out of his mouth is 'Karl Rove'.
Of course, mayber we'll find Novak run over by a train first.
The answer, of course, was pointed out the the Daily News. Novak may very well have been called in front of the Grand Jury. We can't know, because Grand Jury hearings are secret. So, assuming Novak was called (as he would HAVE to be), he had a choice that Cooper and Miller just didn't have.
He must have taken the Fifth. He has that as an option, because the one thing we KNOW is that Novak is involved in a conspiracy to commit a federal felony, and therefore doesn't have to say anything that might incriminate himself.
Tim Russert took another way out, as soon as he was threatened with jail -- he took the 'out of the loop' defense. "Honest, judge, I really don't know who the leak is. Nobody told me!".
But Cooper and Miller wouldn't take that option. They ARE "in the loop" and were given the tip - and chose not to print the name of a covert CIA operative. Therefore, having knowledge of a crime, but having refused to be a part of the crime, they have left themselves without the Fifth Amendment shield.
The answer, of course, it to quit going after the legitimate journalists and put Novak on trial for his crime. Let's see if, when confronted with actual jail time, he gives up his source.
And I hope that when he DOES name names, the first name out of his mouth is 'Karl Rove'.
Of course, mayber we'll find Novak run over by a train first.
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