October 08, 2005

Miller's Notes Confiscated

NY Times reporter Judith Miller gave Patrick Fitzgerald June 2003 notes from a conversation with Dick Cheney's chief of staff Scooter Libby. The conversation took place a month before Joe Wilson wrote his op-ed accusing President Bush of lying about Iraq's pursuit of uranium in Africa. Reuters' Adam Entous writes,

A column by Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times on May 6, 2003 may have been the trigger for the interest by Cheney's office, the sources said.

Kristof's column contained the first public mention of Wilson's mission in Niger, though Wilson was not identified by name. It also mentioned for the first time the alleged role of Cheney's office in seeking an investigation of the uranium deal, prompting the CIA to dispatch Wilson.

Top Cheney aides were eager to dispel Wilson's assertion that he was sent to Niger at the urging of the vice president, sources involved in the case said.

This looks like spinning went out of control. Libby wanted to make sure reporters knew the CIA was behind Wilson's trip. Did Libby state Valarie Plame worked for the CIA? Probably, but that's because it was common knowledge in Washington. Her name is in Who's Who in America. Odd for a secret agent. It just took Bob Novak a few calls and some synapses to fire to put it together.

But that might not matter. Outing Plame may not be the crime Fitzgerald uses for indictments. He might just use a good, old-fashioned espionage charge.

Conspiracy or espionage. Either way Bush and Cheney better start some quiet job searches for some post-indictment openings.

"Reporter Turns Over Notes in CIA Leak Case"