Lawrence O'Donnell - Rove Leaked Plame's name to Novak

The Supreme Court refusal to take the appeal by Judith Miller (New York Times) and Matt Cooper (Time Magazine) regarding revealing their sources has already begun to shake the trees. According to both Josh Marshall and Editor and Publisher, Lawrence O'Donnell stated on the McLaughlin Group that Karl Rove was the person in the White House who leaked Valerie Plames name and position as undercover operator with the CIA to Robert Novak, who then published that information.

Rove has publicly denied that he was the person who provided the leak. He stated that someone else provide the leak and he only encouraged the spread of the data after Novak published the information. What we don't know is what Rove told the Grand Jury since the Grand Jury proceedings are secret.

Editor and Publisher goes on to point out regarding O'Donnell's statement: "... if true, this would suggest a perjury rap for Rove, if he told the grand jury he did not leak to Cooper. "

The on-line Magazine TalkLeft explains that the law requires two corroborating witnesses to convict someone of perjury. This would explain why the Special Counsel, Fitzgerald, has been after Judith Miller's notes even though she has not published a story on the issue.

This is, to me, an interesting story. It will provide some spice this next few weeks to contrast with the many bland statements of what a fine Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been.

The definition of news is a set of facts that might make you change what you otherwise had expected or had intended to do. The Plame investigation promises news. The O'Connor resignation and replacement will simply be another opportunity for Bush to cater to the social right wing and demonstrate that he can't work with others well. We know what to expect from Bush. He is going to make it as nasty a fight as he can set up. Where is the news in that?

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Addendum
Kevin Drum at Political Animal adds to the story. Karl Rove had previously been named to the press by Ambassador Wilson.

Kevin also points out:

"Based on this and other tidbits of information, Rove and "Scooter" Libby have been the prime suspects for a while. What's more, the White House knows it. So if Newsweek does break this story on Sunday, what do you think their reaction will be? They've had plenty of time to prepare for this day, after all.

My guess would be: furious counterattack. Karl did nothing wrong. Everybody knew about Plame already. Wilson is on a witch hunt. Patrick Fitzgerald is out of control. Liberals are just trying to get even for Clinton. Etc."

In other words, expect more of the same from the Bush defensive block house.

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Addendum II More on the Plame - Rove connection.

Armando at Daily Kos provides some additional background on what Rove many or may not have done. There is no doubt that Rove told Chris Matthews that "Valerie Plame is fair game now." Rove has stated that he did not make that statement and push the story until someone else had already broken it. If true, then pushing an already published story is not a crime. OF course, we do not know what Rove has told the Grand Jury under oath. If he has lied under oath, then that is a separate crime of which Rove could be guilty.

The story has also now been published by Newsweek. It is worth reading. Whatever is said right now, though, this story is not over and a lot of people are interested in see that it comes out.