• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

'New York Times' Reporter Describes Grand Jury Testimony

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

By Mark Memmott

A second journalist's account of talks with a White House official offers a glimpse of key evidence now before a grand jury looking into the unmasking of a CIA officer's identity.

That jury's nearly 2-year-old probe could end Oct. 28 when its term expires.

At the heart of the investigation: whether any laws were broken if members of the Bush administration leaked the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame in 2003 or tried to cover their actions.

Plame's husband, former U.S. diplomat Joseph Wilson, contends his wife's identity was revealed to punish him for being a vocal critic of the administration's case for war with Iraq.

New York Times reporter Judith Miller spent 85 days in jail before being released Sept. 29 when she agreed to testify about confidential conversations with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's chief of staff. Miller wrote for the Times this weekend that:

*She told prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and the grand jury that she thinks Libby was the first person to tell her, on June 23, 2003, that Wilson's wife -- whose name he did not use -- "might work for the CIA." Whether he said her name is important legally. That could determine whether her "identity" was revealed.

*On July 8, 2003, Libby told her Wilson's wife worked for a CIA unit. Her notes, Miller wrote, include the name "Valerie Flame."

She does not think Libby gave her that name. She believes "the information came from another source" whom she can't recall.

*Notes from a July 12, 2003, interview with Libby include a reference to "Victoria Wilson." But Miller told Fitzgerald she "didn't know" if it came from Libby.

Libby's attorney, Joseph Tate, has not responded to phone calls and e-mails from USA TODAY.

Miller never wrote a story about Wilson or his wife. Plame's identity was first revealed July 14, 2003, by conservative columnist Robert Novak. Time reporter Matthew Cooper wrote about Plame three days later.

Cooper was the first journalist to reveal details of conversations about Plame with top officials. He wrote in late July this year that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove told him on July 11, 2003, that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA. Rove did not reveal her name. Libby later said he'd "heard that too" about Wilson's wife, Cooper wrote.

Rove testified to the grand jury Friday for at least his fourth time. Libby has testified, too.

Miller also wrote that Fitzgerald asked about a letter Libby sent her last month. After encouraging her to testify, Libby stated, "Every other reporter's testimony makes clear that they did not discuss Ms. Plame's name or identity with me."

Miller was surprised "because it might be perceived as an effort by Mr. Libby" to suggest she say they had not discussed Plame's identity.

*Media mix, 3D

(c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

More News in this Category