Richard Armitage was the sitting Deputy Secretary of State for then SOS Colin Powell. Powell was one of the first to know because Armitage told him when Plame made the accusation. Long before Fitzpatrick had any idea who it was.
Powell told him to not tell anyone else but instead let the entire administration, that he was a member of, swing in the wind for the entire time in years before Fitz ham sandwiched Scooter, only because his account did not match that of a friggin reporter.
I would fault Powell more than Armitage. At least Armitage told his boss what happened. It was Powell who was responsible for leaving everyone hanging.
only because his account did not match that of a friggin reporter.
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Or rather because his account of his conversation with Russert matched his conversation with Bob Woodward.