We've all been watching the saga of Traitorgate unfold, drip by drip, in the MSM and online. The WaPo has a great article today, covered in other diaries on Kos, and little bits of information continue to spill out every day. What occurred to me today was something that Kossacks could do to keep things moving along with the investigation. It is something small, but could lead to another break for the special prosecutor and his staff. More below the fold...
I sent an e-mail to Dan Froomkin at the Washington Post this morning, asking him to ask fellow journalists at the White House for comment and/or to ask questions himself on particular waivers given to journalists for grand jury testimony (and, specifically, those given to Judi Miller). Since Karl Rove's lawyer, Luskin, has been so fond of shooting off his mouth, and thereby gave Fitzgerald a break in discerning Rove's greater role as a source for Matt Cooper, I thought a little game of "Who else has given waviers? And if not, why not?" for journalists with the access to ask it of the key players would be useful for Fitzgerald, for the MSM, and for informing all of us.
Here is the e-mail that I sent:
"I'm a regular reader of your column and enjoy your insights quite a bit. I noted in previous weeks both in your column and in other reports that Matthew Cooper was apparently freed up to discuss Karl Rove's involvement as a source via the public statements of his attorney (Luskin) in a series of articles published around the time that Cooper was facing the possibility of jail time to protect his sources in the matter. Since that time, I have wondered why it is that the press has not pursued that line of questioning with a number of the principles remaining in the matter -- i.e. Ari Fleischer, John Bolton (especially given that he appears to have been a regular confirming source for Judi Miller in a number of her WMD articles along with Achmed Chalabi's INC sources), Andrew Card, Elliott Abrams, Stephen Hadley, Condeleeza Rice, and Vice President Cheney -- in terms of whether or not any of them have granted waivers to Ms. Miller or other journalists with regarding to sourcing on the matter. I would think that journalists would want to pursue all avenues in this matter with one of their own currently serving time in a federal penitentiary -- having represented clients in Federal jeopardy, I can tell you that even a minimum security lock-up is no picnic, and where Ms. Miller is currently confined is not somewhere I would feel comfortable under any circumstances. Could you bring this up with colleagues and comment on this if you think it is pertinent? I get the impression that the Special Prosecutor stumbled onto Mr. Rove's role with Matt Cooper by the happy coincidence of Rove's lawyer's public statements and a series of facts that led him that way after that occcurred. I would hate to have him miss another big step simply because a member of the current administration prefers to save his or her own neck and allow someone else to do jail time on their behalf, namely Ms. Miller -- that sort of cowardice in the face of actions that constitute a serious breach of national security at a time of war is highly disgraceful, and ought to be something delved into for the public by the members of the press, if nothing else. I have worked as a prosecutor during my legal career, and I can tell you that sometimes it is a small stone being turned up that yields the biggest payoff in an investigation -- I would assume that it is the same for reporters on a big story. It seems to me that a member of the administration trying to stay covered up deserves to have their stone turned over -- I little sunshine would be awfully good for whomever committed what i consdier to be a treasonous act at a time of war.
Thanks so much for any attention on this and for your continued good work at the White House."
What if we all started asking reporters, especially those with a Washington beat at State or the Pentagon or what have you, or a White House beat, whether they would ask these questions? Could be a fun few days of press briefings, couldn't it? Could be an amusing game of tag that might lead to nothing at all -- OR, it could lead to another break in the case. Wouldn't that be a grand way to start off the month of August for all of us. Just a thought, but I will be interested to see what folks think here -- and whether anyone knows how to get an e-mail to David Gregory -- he's been particularly sharp at briefings of late and I would love to get this bug in his ear and let him go to it.
UPDATED to add that I also thought it would be a good idea to raise this question about Bolton in particular prior to the recess of Congress. With questions out there in the broader public and not just on DKos, it will be much more difficult to do a recess appointment of him to the UN without raising a LOT of unanswered questions in the process. Thought this might be a great way to get two birds with one stone if we can get some action going on this question of his involvement in Traitorgate before the WH has an opportunity to sneak him in under the radar.
UPDATE 2: Updated the title based on a friend's suggestion. Hope this is more on point.