Posted on 11/16/2005 5:17:12 PM PST by ncountylee
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Post editor Bob Woodward tried to fend off criticism Wednesday over revelations that he didn't reveal to his bosses that a top Bush administration official had told him the name of a CIA operative.
"Journalism is a contact sport," Woodward told The Associated Press Wednesday. Referring to criticism he experienced during his reporting on the 1970s Watergate scandal, Woodward said, "I was 29 when people who really knew how to shoot were around."
Woodward said he apologized to Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. for not telling him until last month that he had learned about Valerie Plame and her work at the CIA more than two years ago.
He said he had been working on a book, "Plan of Attack," about the administration's decision to go to war in Iraq, and he did not want to be subpoenaed by a special prosecutor investigating the leak of Plame's name.
"I hunkered down more than I usually do," Woodward said.
Downie said Wednesday on CNN's "The Situation Room": "Bob has acknowledged today that he made a mistake in not telling me about it sooner. He's apologized to me and to the newspaper. And we're going to move along from here now and work on other reporting of his in the future."
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, 55, Vice President Cheney's former top aide, was indicted last month for allegedly lying to FBI agents and a grand jury about how he learned about Plame and when he subsequently disclosed her identity to reporters.
Woodward said his Bush administration source recently asked him to answer questions posed by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. The source has refused to be identified publicly, Woodward said
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Maybe William Casey told Bob W. while he was comatose on his deathbed. On wait, that one's been done.
Whatever's going on, I think Woodward has just complicated Fitz's case big-time.
Woodward just saved Libby a TON of legal fees and he owes Woodward a steak dinner at the Palms.
According to Joe diGenova on FOX today;
Fitzgerald will have to drop all charges!
Next case...
"According to Joe diGenova on FOX today;
Fitzgerald will have to drop all charges!
Next case..."
THAT my friend is WISHFUL THINKING!
well I'll put my money on diGenova than you any day. LMAO
the indictments are flawed, hence they'll have to be dropped!
and where did you go to law school?
Woodward called Fitz a "Junkyard Dog" type of prosecutor. And Fitz loves to be misled. Why else would he listen to Joe Wilson and the MSM? Unfortunately they're playing with Fitz' deck of cards. So Libby's got a problem until Fitz loses his deck or moves on to Lotto.
It's the old "who's the liar" game.
It's the game that children play with their Mom...he hit me first. But he looked at me wrong first.
Fitz "picked" Libby as "you must be the one who is lying". Don't forget: 12 people from DC on the jury??
I can't keep up with this. Can someone put this is real easy terms for me?
The MSM have shot themselves on the foot here.
Can someone put this is real easy terms for me?
Fitzgerald, the Special Prosecutor, has said that Libby was the first person to tell a reporter that Plame worked for the CIA. Woodward has said under oath in a deposition, No, I heard about Plame from another official before that. Libby's defense lawyers seem happy, Fitzgerald is quiet.
Ok, that sounds better. Sometimes I just need it explained in simple terms!. Thanks
Someone please tell me why it is OK for reporters to OUT a CIA agent, but whomever has given info to the reporter has to be charged with a crime.
The grand jury depends upon people telling the truth. Fitzgerald in his news conference suggested that Libby must have been involved in an effort to release Plame's identity to reporters because his telling them was the first release of her name.
Now there is a direct contradiction of Fitzgerald's explanation of what happened.
The grand jury may have believed that Libby committeed perjury by claiming a conversation with Russert that Russert denies. Fitzgerald's claim is that the conversation with Russert was impossible because Russert could not have known about Plame.
Now, with Woodwards admission, Russert's denial should be re-examined. Perhaps Russert committed perjury and Libby did not. The grand jury deserved the opportunity to consider that and Fitzgerald's statements indicate that they did not.
diGenova's comments reflect his understanding of Justice Department rules. diGenova has been a special prosecutor himself and can be expected to understand the process.
The bottom line is that Libby should not be expected to defend against accusations which the prosecutor can no longer make. If you extend the situation and imagine that every single fact that Fitzgerald claimed is now contradicted, would it be reasonable for someone to face trial? Of course not.
Even the level of "probable cause" cannot be reached if Russert could have known the information that Libby says he got from Russert. The jury in a trial would be looking for "proof beyond a reasonable doubt". They can't get it now.
It would appear that Fitzgerald let the fact that the grand jury was expiring influence his thinking. Also, Pincus, I think, is now claiming to have forgotten a key conversation. Perhaps he committed perjury with respect to other facts. Fitzgerald dare not proceed with the Libby indictment. Some judge is liable to grant Libby dismissal with prejudice, forever barring another indictment.
Look, I went to high school in Wheaton with this lying turd. He was no where near Bill Casey's death bed, it was a total fabrication to sell his stupid book. He had to be the BMOC at Wheaton every chance he got. I will bet you he is lying about this merely to get back into the spotlight of public attention. A real moron!
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