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Valerie Plame Investigation Review

By Jeralyn, Section Valerie Plame Leak Case
Posted on Fri Dec 31, 2004 at 08:36:21 AM EST
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The New York Times profiles columnist Robert Novak and recaps the investigation into who leaked the identity of former CIA operative Valerie Plame.

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    Valerie Plame Investigation Review | 12 comments (12 topical)
    Re: Valerie Plame Investigation Review (none / 0) (#1)
    by cp on Fri Dec 31, 2004 at 11:50:14 PM EST
    "Revealing a spy is treason." i thought that as well, when i first read mr. novak's column. apparently, it requires a bit more than that to commit "treason". in fact, per the article, it doesn't appear that novak is even in violation of the fed law against publicizing the identity of a covert agent; he is not a government official. the gov't official who provided plame's real identity to novak would appear to be the one who would actually be chargeable under this statute. at least, that's the way i read it. it explains why novak has never been charged with a crime. this would be congress' failure, not novak's.

    Re: Valerie Plame Investigation Review (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 12:37:28 AM EST
    On the contrary, that is intentionally "aiding our enemies" which is the definition of treason in the Constitution. In its potential deadliness to millions of Americans, that act of treason is a direct breach of national security. Someone doing that can be arrested summarily by the FBI any minute of the day the Executive orders it. But clearly the White House is complicit in the treason. No petty lawyering is protecting Novak. It certainly ain't the First Amendment. This was not a protected act of a reporter. It was a conspiracy to damage the national security of the United States, to abet the private politics of the current unelected president. The brazeness of these crimes doesn't lessen their severity one bit. --

    Re: Valerie Plame Investigation Review (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 09:13:48 AM EST
    I think cp is referring directly to the 1992(?)legislation that makes it a crime to out a CIA operative and Paul is referring to the constitutional crime of treason. I believe cp is correct that Novak cannot be prosecuted under the more recent legislation where Boots, Cheney, Rummy or Dubya could. However, we are in wild west mode and the likes of Jim are suggesting we just line up suspected insurgents and shoot them, so I point out they don't have the same enthusiasm for lining up over-zealous treasonous americans and shooting them. Unless, they are blue state affiliates, I guess. We never had it so good.

    Re: Valerie Plame Investigation Review (none / 0) (#4)
    by cp on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 10:43:06 AM EST
    correct ca, that was the law i was referring to, not the constitutional charge of treason. by the way paul, if you feel that strongly about it, i believe you have the right, as a citizen, to file a complaint with the fbi, charging mr. novak with treason. of course, in an age when the gov't itself advertizes it's intent to go to war on cnn, and provides the timetable for that war to all the world's major media, you might have a hard row to hoe getting the fbi to respond. what foreign enemy did novak secretly disclose that information to? when was he hired by the gov't? if novak is guilty of treason, than so is every media outlet that reported the decision to go to war against iraq, afghanistan and iraq. ann coulter throws that term around pretty loosely as well, and she's a lawyer. i have yet to hear of her actually contacting the fbi regarding anyone she's accused of it yet. i expect i won't either. but paul, do let us know how it turns out, we'll be looking forward to seeing you on the 6 o'clock news.

    Re: Valerie Plame Investigation Review (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 11:31:26 AM EST