Is Novak in the clear?

[oldtime dfl_er]

With everything else going on, I've been unable to figure that one out - is the old rotting soul off the hook?

[Epiphany4z]

1. I noticed

His name is barley ever even mentioned.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. I believe his name was only mentioned once in the indictment in regard

to Offical A (which has to be Rove). Now if Official A does get indicted (keeping all fingers and toes crossed here), you'll hear more about his part.

[NanceGreggs]

2. YUP!

Why? Because he sang like a canary in his first interview with Fitz. So much for honour amongst theives, Bob 'Joe Valachi' Novak!

[Kenroy]

4. I don't think he was ever on the hook

if a government insider tells a journalist something, the journalist isn't breaking the law by publishing it, as long as it's true.

[Talismom]

6. But once it is clear that the insider perpetrated a crime and

endangered the lives and work of govt. operatives, the journalist should be toast in the court of public opinion and word of his role in the treason should never stop being mentioned!

[madrchsod]

5. i think he told the truth

and that is why he will never be charged. he could have been the only one that actually told the truth. amazing isn`t it?

[MADem]

7. He folded like a cheap card table

The guy is in his seventies, old, sick, he has brittle bones, and he is at the end of the line. He was NOT about to hire slews of lawyers, spend his savings on a defense, sit at home worrying about being hauled to the bar of justice, or being accused of knowingly spreading classified material to the detriment of the national security of the nation.

He looked in the mirror and said "fuck it--I ain't taking the fall."

IMO.

[CTyankee]

8. I almost posted this same question

However, I think I can safely say that we DUers are civil libertarians. I am not sure that we would want old Novakio to be locked up for putting in print what he had heard. I personally think it is on a level with the old example of publishing the location of the troop ship, but such a precedent could have the effect of being used against a journalist we admire at some point.

And I agree that Novak probably sang himself hoarse to the GJ to save his miserable ass. He should be ashamed of himself. I bet his family is ashamed of him.

[Montauk6]

9. Geez, almost forgot about him...

Where's ol Porcelain Mouth been lately?