Federal Grand Jury Could Subpoena Talon News Correspondent (and RighTalk host)

Talon News ^ | 3/9/2004 | Jim Hauser

[ConservativeMajority]

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- A federal grand jury has subpoenaed White House records on administration contacts with more than two dozen journalists and news media outlets in a special investigation into the alleged improper leak of a covert CIA official's identity to columnist Robert Novak last July.

Talon News has learned that one of the journalists being targeted is Jeff Gannon, Washington Bureau Chief and White House correspondent for Talon News.

In July of 2003, syndicated columnist, Robert Novak wrote a piece entitled "Mission to Niger" in which he discussed retired diplomat Joseph C. Wilson's investigation into possible Iraqi purchases of uranium from Niger. In the article, Novak disclosed that he was told by two administration officials that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, suggested sending him to Niger to investigate claims outlined in an Italian report regarding the attempted uranium purchases by Iraq.

Novak also identified Plame as a "[CIA] operative on weapons of mass destruction," although in a follow-up column, Novak said that according to unofficial sources, Plame was an analyst and not involved in covert operations. Novak also stressed that her name and occupation were already well known.

"Republican activist Clifford May wrote Monday, in National Review Online, that he had been told of her identity by a non-government source before my column appeared and that it was common knowledge," said Novak in his follow-up column. "Her name, Valerie Plame, was no secret either, appearing in Wilson's 'Who's Who in America' entry."

Two days after Novak's second article, Jeff Gannon wrote a news story for Talon News that outlined White House claims of partisanship in the ensuing furor over the alleged leak.

At one point Gannon quotes a White House spokesman who said, "There are some people that are making unsubstantiated allegations and unsubstantiated rumors about the White House leaking classified information. And some of those people have been forced to back away from that, and then all of a sudden they move the goalpost and focus on another issue that's not the subject of the investigation."

In December of last year, Gannon reported on continuing pressure by Senate Democrats on the Justice Department to "pursue the investigation into the alleged leak of a CIA officer's identity earlier in the year." Gannon also identified Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee as the two prominent figures leading the push.

At the same time, the Washington Post claimed that "according to their sources, the Central Intelligence Agency believes people in the Bush administration are continuing to release classified information to damage figures at the center of the Niger 'yellowcake' controversy."

According to a subsequent Talon News story by Bobby Eberle regarding the Washington Post piece, "The Washington Post cites an unnamed source who says, 'The CIA is angry about the circulation of a still-classified document to conservative news outlets.' They point to a memo referenced in a Talon News interview of Wilson that suggests his wife was instrumental in his selection for the fact-finding trip to Africa."

Talon News was the only service identified by the Washington Post as having knowledge of the memo's existence.

"I will tell you that the information did not come from inside the administration," Gannon told Talon News. "For something that is supposed to be classified, it seems that this document is easily accessible."

Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported the subpoena of White House records on administration contacts with journalists and news media outlets that are targets in the special investigation.

Gannon declined to comment on whether federal investigators have contacted or interviewed him and said that he has yet to receive a subpoena. Gannon also noted that he has not been contacted by any other news agencies.

"I don't know why I'm on the list of journalists being called before the Grand Jury," Gannon told Talon News. "I have been an outspoken critic of the leak probe and an aggressive questioner of the motives behind it. That seems to have drawn the attention of someone with the authority to issue subpoenas."

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[mewzilla]

The g.j. should subpoena the Wilsons.

[Terpfen]

"The g.j. should subpoena the Wilsons."

Better yet, Novak.

[mewzilla]

Novak can claim confidentiality. The Wilsons can't.

[Peach]

This is a witch hunt because Jeff Gannon has slapped the reporters silly with at least one of his excellent questions at a White House press briefing.

[mewzilla]

The Dems should be careful what they wish for.

[JohnGalt]

Mr.Gannon is not being truthful when he says he does not know why he is being subpoenaed. When he interviewed Wilson last October he made reference to "an internal government memo" purporting to be the minutes of a meeting at which Plame played a key role in getting her husband the Niger assignment.

From the interview: TN: An internal government memo prepared by U.S. intelligence personnel details a meeting in early 2002 where your wife, a member of the agency for clandestine service working on Iraqi weapons issues, suggested that you could be sent to investigate the reports. Do you dispute that?

Since the Niger Uranium documents have been judged forgeries, Gannon is suggesting that he was made privy to counterfeit official/government documents which is a crime, and a separate crime at that and logically he would be hauled in front of a grand jury probing the Plame affair.

[Terpfen]

"Novak can claim confidentiality. The Wilsons can't."

Novak's also the only guy who knows the name of the leaker. Get to him, problem solved.

I thought it was sick when he mocked the situation at the Gridiron Dinner. It's an investigation of his own making!

[Jeff Gannon]

You are kind. What is interesting about this is that I have become ensnared in this matter because I asked questions of my government.

This may a chilling effect on freedom of the press.

All this commotion, but the central question has yet to be answered: At the time that Robert Novak's column was published, was Valerie Plame a "covert operative"?

The CIA has refused to comment on this very important point.

If she was not, then no crime has been committed and all communications between the administration and reporters is just gossip.

[Peach]

Good analysis. I wish you all the best of luck in this matter! We can't afford to lose reporters like you, and I believe the leftists would like nothing more than to see you and those like you defeated in whatever manner they can see you jobless.

[Jeff Gannon]

Your professed insight into the motivation of the Grand Jury is merely guesswork.

The document in question has never been acknowleged by any government agency to even exist.

This is a one-sided investigation where people are being accused of crimes for revealing names and information that may have not been secret in the first place.

[JohnGalt]

That is simply not true, Jeff.

You are ensnared because you made reference to a government document, which appears to have been a forgery. You need to tell the Grand Jury who made you privy to that document.

[JohnGalt]

What was the document you referred to in the interview with Wilson?

[Catspaw]

All this commotion, but the central question has yet to be answered: At the time that Robert Novak's column was published, was Valerie Plame a "covert operative"?

This, of course, would be argued in a motion to quash the subpoena, if you and other journalists are subpoenaed. If not then, before a judge in a contempt action, if they're so foolish as to attempt to compel your testimony, despite the First Amendment, or--and this is a stretch--if anyone is criminally charged out of this.

[Gabz]

This entire situation has me totally confused...........

[Jeff Gannon]

I disagree with your characterization of the document itself, but that aside, I maintain that I am under no obligation whatsoever to reveal my sources. That is a fundamental element of maintaining a free press.

[JohnGalt]

Sorry, Jeff, but you claimed in this report you did not why you were being subpoenaed which is untrue. You know very well why you are being subpoenaed.

You are a logical target for the Grand Jury probing either the forged Nigerian documents, 'forged' being the FBI's characterization not mine, or L'Affair Plame.

The law does believe you are obligated so you are incorrect. While I would respect your integrity in accepting the consequences in refusing to release your sources, you are still obligated by the law to reveal who made you privy to the document you referenced. I am sure as a 'conservative' you understand the difference, don't you?

[Jeff Gannon]

Justin Raimondo is that you? I didn't think you hung out here anymore.

Oops, now I've "outed" someone else!

[JohnGalt]

Sorry, Jeff, the only one 'outed' was you who claimed ignorance as to why you were being subpoenaed.

I have been on this forum since 1997. Twenty-something; I sell software over the phone. Plenty of people on this forum have met me in the real world.

[Jeff Gannon]

You're a riot!

Be careful you don't show too much knowledge about national security matters - you too could be hauled before a secret tribunal!