WSJ: Novak's Role Is Still Largely Unknown

[question everything]

Novak's Role Is Still Largely Unknown

By JULIA ANGWIN
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 29, 2005

(snip)

The 74-year-old syndicated columnist and frequent television commentator hasn't revealed the sources for his July 2003 column, or said whether he talked to the grand jury. Mr. Novak has said he would tell his story after the investigation is concluded.

There is only one mention of Mr. Novak in the indictment, when prosecutors allege Mr. Libby spoke to "Official A" about a conversation the official had with Mr. Novak. "Libby was advised by Official A that Novak would be writing a story about Wilson's wife," the indictment states. It doesn't say that Official A was Mr. Novak's source. The indictment says "Wilson's wife was discussed as a CIA employee" during this conversation. The indictment doesn't address if Official A was Mr. Novak's original source or a secondary source.

People briefed on the matter confirmed that Official A is White House adviser Karl Rove. Mr. Rove hasn't been charged. No one knows what Mr. Novak told the grand jury, if anything, or what Mr. Rove said about this possible conversation. Reached yesterday, Mr. Novak's attorney declined to comment.

(snip)

The indictment is otherwise silent on Mr. Novak, whose July 2003 column unmasking Ms. Wilson sparked the investigation. Instead, prosecutors allege that Mr. Libby lied to federal investigators and a grand jury about his conversations with Time magazine's Mr. Cooper, Ms. Miller of the New York Times and Mr. Russert of NBC News.

(snip)


Write to Julia Angwin at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113054143248783058.html (subscription)

[Straight Shooter]

1. Tie Novak and Rove together and make them walk the plank.

Attach the plank to the edge of a top balcony of the Empire State Building.

[kurth]

2. Too painless

[Straight Shooter]

3. Maybe so, but it's a long way to the bottom in slow-motion time. n/t

[MADem]

4. Novak folded like a cheap card table

Novak was the first tug on the string. He is old, he is sick, he keeps breaking bones (ankle, wrists, hip) and he is falling apart. He seems about ready to hang it up. With any luck, he is sitting his generous ass down every day and working on a TRUTHFUL (for a change) book, for which he will get a hefty advance, and enable himself to live out his days as a comfortable has-been.

Novak is not in ANY legal jeopardy, IMO. He sang like friken Pavarotti the minute he got served. His anger during that CNN dustup probably had as much to do with his realization that he will no longer be a feared insider, just a tired, shuffling old man who once had clout in the District.