Miller Goes to Jail: Novak Lounging at Home

Posted on July 6, 2005

Well, it looks like Judith Miller is headed for jail, while Robert Novak -- you know, the guy that actually named Valerie Plame as a CIA operative in his column -- is free to chill out at home, apparently without a care in the world. Matthew Cooper of Time magazine, has agreed to testify in front of the grand jury. In a last-minute development, his source called him this morning and waived confidentiality.

And Karl Rove, the man who has been fingered by MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell as the source of the Plame leak? He refuses to answer questions about the incident, although his lawyer admitted that he did speak to Matthew Cooper. Rove has retained criminal counsel in connection with the matter and the word is that the prosecutor has Rove in his sights. Novak's not talking, so we don't know whether he's already testified to the grand jury in secret, or cut a deal, or what.

It looks like Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald isn't fooling around. National careers have been made on cases just like this one.