Remember, Rove denied any involvement in the Plame Leak

[dogday]

Reporting that Rove avoided indictment, broadcast networks left out his, White House's false statements during CIA leak investigation

Summary: Broadcast networks covering the news that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald reportedly told White House senior adviser Karl Rove that he does not anticipate charging Rove in connection with the CIA leak investigation left out key information concerning Rove's conduct and the false and misleading information put out by the White House concerning the matter. Rove's history of falsely claiming that he was not involved in disclosing CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity was ignored or downplayed, as was the White House's false denials of Rove's role.

Broadcast networks covering the news that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald reportedly told White House senior adviser Karl Rove that he does not anticipate charging Rove in connection with the CIA leak investigation left out key information concerning Rove's conduct and the false and misleading information put out by the White House concerning the matter. June 13 reports on NBC's Nightly News and the CBS Evening News failed to note that Rove falsely told reporters during the course of the investigation that he was not involved in disclosing CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to reporters or that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan also relayed Rove's false claim to reporters. While ABC's World News Tonight aired footage of Rove denying he leaked Plame's name, it was portrayed as being offset by Rove returning to the grand jury and "saying he had forgotten the conversation" with a reporter; ABC also did not note the repeated denials by Rove and the White House. By contrast, reports in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Associated Press all included Rove's falsehoods in their June 14 reports.

AP staff writer Pete Yost noted that "he decision not to charge Karl Rove shows there often are no consequences for misleading the public." Yost further noted that, "by misleading reporters, the White House saved itself from a political liability during the 2004 presidential campaign":

http://mediamatters.org/items/200606150001