Does anyone have any insights or theories or ...

[woodman]

... any ideas as to why that notorious scumbag - Robert Novak, is not sitting in a jail cell somewhere? I always thought that what he did when he revealed the identity of a CIA operative was a felony ... nearly constituting an act of treason. Yet his terminally ugly puss is still appearing on CNN on a daily basis. Why?????????????

[mtrycraft]

... any ideas as to why that notorious scumbag - Robert Novak, is not sitting in a jail cell somewhere? I always thought that what he did when he revealed the identity of a CIA operative was a felony ... nearly constituting an act of treason. Yet his terminally ugly puss is still appearing on CNN on a daily basis. Why?????????????

Been a while. He is the one to reveal it? What an sorry excuse of life. He should be charged and put away.

[kexodusc]

It would seem that in today's world the consequences of illegal actions determine the punishment, not merely the fact that an illegal act was committed. This is unfortunate.

[Swerd]

... any ideas as to why that notorious scumbag - Robert Novak, is not sitting in a jail cell somewhere? I always thought that what he did when he revealed the identity of a CIA operative was a felony ... nearly constituting an act of treason. Yet his terminally ugly puss is still appearing on CNN on a daily basis. Why?????????????

Apparently the law prohibits any government employee from revealing the identity of an undercover agent. Robert Novak, by publishing what he was told, didn't break the letter of the law. He certainly violated the spirit of the law and deserves the tratorious scumbag title. Of course, he is claiming freedom of the press protection, and will not say who leaked it to him.

Rumor in Washington has it that an aide to the Vice President is the one who did the leaking. Prosecuting someone under this law is probably hard because you have to prove that the leak was made intentionally. Maybe they can get him/her on a lying to federal investigators or obstructing justice charge. We will have to wait and see if the same zeal that Republicans had in hounding Clinton over Whitewater continues to exist in the Justice Dept.

[Swerd]

The Novak leak story is not completely dead, as there is a grand jury probe:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in622809.shtml

I don't expect to hear any progress on this investigation until the grand jury is done. However, those who are skeptical or paranoid about politics might find that all the recent talk about the findings of the 9-11 commission, along with the resignation of the CIA director has diverted attention away from the Novak leak story. I hope the grand jury acts before the November election.

[Woochifer]

Sad part is that Valerie Plame was incidental to the point that Novak was trying to make about Joe Wilson. Considering how freely the right-wing echo chamber equates liberal or even moderate views to treason, it is interesting how nonchalant Novak and the White House are about outing an undercover agent whose duty deals very directly with national security. Basically, they committed a federal crime (maybe not Novak, but definitely the White House source) and to what end? To discredit a critic who's been a trusted diplomat with Republican and Democratic administrations alike? I mean, what happens when there's actually something of substance at stake, rather than just petty spite?

Next thing you know, the Administration will start issuing terror alerts based on three or four year old information in order to get back on the front page. Oh, I forgot, already done ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/03/po...3intel.html?hp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2004Aug2.html
http://www.americanprogressaction.or...P7H&b=100480#2

It all just makes this rather hilarious political cartoon from a couple of weeks ago all the more prescient (in a frightening way).

http://www.markfiore.com/animation/fear.html

[Woochifer]

The Novak leak story is not completely dead, as there is a grand jury probe:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in622809.shtml

I don't expect to hear any progress on this investigation until the grand jury is done. However, those who are skeptical or paranoid about politics might find that all the recent talk about the findings of the 9-11 commission, along with the resignation of the CIA director has diverted attention away from the Novak leak story. I hope the grand jury acts before the November election.

Actually, about couple of months ago I heard an interview with Joe Wilson and I can tell you that he's pissed off and if the grand jury won't act before the election, he will. Look for a civil suit to get filed soon, and basically what that would do is force a discovery process that can present major problems because administration officials can be deposed under oath.

The Valerie Plame Affair: pre-election things to watch out for