NYT: Armitage Admits He Was Initial And Primary Source In CIA Leak Case

[kpete]

Source of C.I.A. Leak Admits Role, Lawyer Says
By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: August 30, 2006

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 — Richard L. Armitage, a former deputy secretary of state, has acknowledged that he was the person whose conversation with a columnist in 2003 prompted a long, politically laden criminal investigation in what became known as the C.I.A. leak case, a lawyer involved in the case said on Tuesday.

Mr. Armitage did not return calls for comment. But the lawyer and other associates of Mr. Armitage have said he has confirmed that he was the initial and primary source for the columnist, Robert D. Novak, whose column of July 14, 2003, identified Valerie Wilson as a Central Intelligence Agency officer.

The identification of Mr. Armitage as the original leaker to Mr. Novak ends what has been a tantalizing mystery. In recent months, however, Mr. Armitage’s role had become clear to many, and it was recently reported by Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post.

In the accounts by the lawyer and associates, Mr. Armitage disclosed casually to Mr. Novak that Ms. Wilson worked for the C.I.A. at the end of an interview in his State Department office. Mr. Armitage knew that, the accounts continue, because he had seen a written memorandum by Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/30/washington/30armitage.html?hp&ex=1156910400&en=8147a124a4926c40&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Botany]

1. Can you say fall guy?

Sure you can.

Wanna bet that he just might happen to have cancer or something?

And how much is Cheney & Rove paying him?

[DRoseDARs]

6. Armitage: "Oh look, a sword. I think I'll go fall on it..." n/t

:eyes:

[KittyWampus]

9. Actually, Armitage hasn't said jackshit as far as we know.

there aren't any quotes from him.

[Generator]

2. Frankly

at this point I feel punked by everyone involved. And I mean everyone-from Fitzgerald to Leopold to everyone in all mainstream media.

It's an enigma wrapped in Dick Cheney.

[acmavm]

3. Sure, I believe that this male Gladys Kravitz did this all on his lonesome

without any prompting from anyone. No prior conversations about how good it would be to sully her name and hint that her husband had 'ulterior' motives for saying that the Niger story was a crock.

:sarcasm:

I have a 14 year old son. I know bullshit when I hear it.

[KittyWampus]

4. "a lawyer involved in the case" I'll wait for direct quotes from Armitage

[rzemanfl]

5. Didn't Novak say he wasn't? n/t

[Tinksrival]

7. Yea...... I read that too??

Whatcha gotta say Novakula?

[cigsandcoffee]

11. I heard he wouldn't confirm or deny. n/t

[applegrove]

8. I trust Fitz to do the right thing. Whatever that is. Maybe he didn't

lie to Fitz?

[PresidentWar]

10. Armitage selected interference runner for Rove

Like we can't se what THIS is all about?

[KittyWampus]

13. there is zero indication Armitage is doing SQUAT for Rove.

All we've been given so far are quotes from "unnamed lawyers involved inthe case" and coy statements from Novac etc.

Armitage hasn't been quoted directly yet.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. "Mr. Armitage disclosed casually to Mr. Novak that...."

MISSING WHITE GIRL, JON BENET RAMSEY, MISSING WHITE GIRL, JON BENET RAMSEY, MISSING WHITE GIRL, JON BENET RAMSEY, MISSING WHITE GIRL, JON BENET RAMSEY, MISSING WHITE GIRL,

etc.

[glitch]

14. Poppy must be so pleased, maybe even enough for a Carlyle position.

Atta boy Dickie! Way to take one for the team!