Posted on 10/24/2005 9:05:41 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 10:24 p.m. EDT Times: Cheney First Disclosed CIA Official's Name
The New York Times reported late Monday that Vice President Cheney has been directly linked to the so-called "Plamegate" scandal involving the disclosure of the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA officer.
The paper reported that Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby "first learned about the C.I.A. officer at the heart of the leak investigation in a conversation with Mr. Cheney weeks before her identity became public in 2003."
The paper sourced their story to "lawyers involved in the case."
The Times said that notes taken by Libby differ from his own testimony before the grand jury as to when he first learned of Plame's identity.
"The notes, taken by Mr. Libby during the conversation, for the first time place Mr. Cheney in the middle of an effort by the White House to learn about Ms. Wilson’s husband, Joseph C. Wilson IV, who was questioning the administration’s handling of intelligence about Iraq’s nuclear program to justify the war."
Cheney apparently discovered details of Plame's CIA work after he questioned then CIA Director George J. Tenet about her husband, Ambassador Wilson.
But even if Libby or Cheney had disclosed Plame's identity as a CIA officer they may not have committed a crime.
"Disclosing a covert agent’s identity can be a crime, but only if the person who discloses it knows the agent’s undercover status," the Times said.
so Libby provides his notes, and then gives testimony contra to his own notes, which he provided? how's that?
Much ado about nothing.
That isn't going to keep the MSM from foaming at the mouth, though.
So isnt George Tenet the real culprit? This whole witch hunt is a bad joke
Ummm....errr....then doesn't that make George Tenet the source of the leak?
Looks like Tenet did it. Hell, I'll bet Wilson/Flame did it first. So what's the biggie? It was common knowlede and not a crime anyway. No crime. No foul.
I think the NYT has fallen over the edge. This sounds like wild eyed hysteria.
Amazingly she wasn't just some ol' gal baking cookies and being satisfied to be known as Mrs. Wilson.
Looks like the New York Times is trying to dig its way out of the blame for this story ~ just like the Warsh Post is doing.
Absolutely much ado about nothing. In addition, Cheney wouldn't have been dumb enough to blow an undercover agent. And even if he did, it's a tiny scandal. The people who are angry about this were never angry about such things before. If the worst happens and Cheney is indicted, I hope Bush has the character and the political wisdom to stand behind him 1,000 percent -- hell or high water, Mr. President.
do you remember the clintonista who claimed he "lied to his diary" when he gave conflicting testimony apart from his notes?
liberalism is garbageism
What is this repeated crap of "may not have committed a crime?" THERE WAS NO CRIME! She was not covert or an agent as far as I can tell!
It's all just noise.
did Cheney testify under oath in the GJ proceeding?
I think you hit the nail on the head. This is indeed a witch hunt. Has all the necessary traits. And yes, it is quite ridiculous. Particularly the way the media is outrightly foaming at the mouth hoping for the worst to happen so they can wax rhetoric on their various papers and tv shows.
Sounds like the only person who didn't know Valerie Plame was an employee of the CIA was the janitor.
It's just GOTCHA, played for blood. So terribly disgustingly Machiavellian.
We do know that Wilson lied to congress.
THAT is a FACT.
I don't think its noise.
if nothing happens this week, if no indictments come down - the MSM is going to have reached a new low. why would they go out on a limb with all these stories starting from late last week?
The real culprits are Plame and her stupid husband
Now its Cheney. Last week its Rove and Libby and anyone else who ever had an 'R after their name....By next week it'll be one of the switchboard ops at the WH. The NY Slimes is finished.
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