(WP reporter Walter) Pincus Tags Fleischer As Leak Source

[sabra]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6410888,00.html

Pincus Tags Fleischer As Leak Source

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer leaked the identity of a CIA operative to Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus during a 2003 phone call, Pincus testified Monday as the first defense witness in the CIA leak trial.

Pincus was one of the first reporters to learn the identity of Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and prominent Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson. Pincus said he learned her identity July 12, 2003 but did not immediately write about it. Plame was outed by syndicated columnist Robert Novak two days later.

Pincus testified on behalf of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby. Libby is accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the leak of Plame's identity.

Pincus, a veteran national security reporter, said he was talking to Fleischer for a story about weapons of mass destruction. He said Fleischer ``suddenly swerved off'' topic and asked why Pincus continued to write about Wilson.

``Don't you know his wife works for the CIA as an analyst?'' Pincus recalled Fleischer saying.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Note to Libby Lawyers: Review the charges

Scooter lied.

[sabra]

3. more from the article:

<snip>

Fleischer testified at the trial earlier that Libby had told him about Plame over lunch. Fleischer testified he leaked the information to three reporters during a presidential trip to Africa but he did not mention the Pincus conversation. In exchange for his testimony, prosecutors promised not to charge Fleischer.

Libby argues that he never discussed Plame with Fleischer. Pincus' testimony helps defense attorneys make the argument that Fleischer needed someone to blame to cover up his own leaking.

:crazy:

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Am I reading this incorrectly, or are they start to turn on each other? nt

[sabra]

7. first Rove now Fleischer... everyman for himself, well Libby is also

watching out for Cheney

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. That's silly because

Fleischer would have been charged if that were the case. Which article/author was it the Cheney said was "the best source"? Wasn't that Pincus?

eta: Nevermind. It was Weekly Standard. Too many Cons to keep track of.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I don't know how that info could help Libby

He committed perjury regardless of how many White House insiders told reporters.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. I don't see how that helps Libby. Can anyone explain? nt

[rodeodance]

8. heres is the explanation that the paper gives:

....Fleischer testified at the trial earlier that Libby had told him about Plame over lunch. Fleischer testified he leaked the information to three reporters during a presidential trip to Africa but he did not mention the Pincus conversation. In exchange for his testimony, prosecutors promised not to charge Fleischer.

Libby argues that he never discussed Plame with Fleischer. Pincus' testimony helps defense attorneys make the argument that Fleischer needed someone to blame to cover up his own leaking.

[Beetwasher]

9. It Doesn't, Libby Has No Defense

So they are trying to change the subject.

[tanyev]

13. aka, "swerving off topic"

The one skill each and every one of them have mastered.

[Igel]

11. I haven't followed this closely.

Here are two possibilities:

1. Fleischer is a prosecution witness. This serves to undermine him: First, Fleischer didn't tell the entire truth; second, Fleischer had a motive to misrepresent things.

2. Fitzgerald has motive to show that the Plame outing was intentional, if not part of a conspiracy. He introduced Wilson's column at the beginning of the trial in order to show that the WH, Libby included, had a motive to make sure Mr. Wilson was a target, and that this provides a motive for making Wilson nee Plame a target. As a target, references to her are not inconsequential, and therefore aren't likely to be incidental and easily forgettable.

After all, Libby's defense is that he said something false, which is necessary, but not sufficient, to show that he lied/committed perjury--which involves *knowingly* false statements.

I still wish they would make clear the distinction between the signified and the signifying (to use Jakobson's terminology). Valerie Wilson = Valerie Plame = Joe Wilson's wife, but the words used matter.

[Kagemusha]

12. It's not a leak trial. If Libby leaked to Fleisher and then said oh say...

I heard it from various reporters as if it was new...

...Then that's a big fat bit of perjury.

[rodeodance]

6. AP: Pincus reveals Fleischer as leak source

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070212/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial;_ylt=Aj2e17agSKePmqJbcRY..Xms0NUE

Pincus reveals Fleischer as leak source

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Former White House press secretary
Ari Fleischer leaked the identity of a
CIA operative to Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus during a 2003 phone call, Pincus testified Monday as the first defense witness in the CIA leak trial.


Pincus was one of the first reporters to learn the identity of
Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and prominent
Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson. Pincus said he learned her identity July 12, 2003 but did not immediately write about it. Plame was outed by syndicated columnist Robert Novak two days later.

Pincus testified on behalf of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby is accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the leak of Plame's identity.

Pincus, a veteran national security reporter, said he was talking to Fleischer for a story about weapons of mass destruction. He said Fleischer "suddenly swerved off" topic and asked why Pincus continued to write about Wilson.