Is Stephen Hadley Mr. X?
[See updates below]
Raw Story is reporting that National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley was the mysterious "senior administration official" who told Bob Woodward about Joe Wilson's wife back in June 2003. Raw Story has a mixed track record so far in the leak investigation, but much of what they've reported has panned out. They seem pretty sure of themselves on this one, and Hadley is certainly a plausible candidate. I'm tempted to believe them.
That said, the story also alleges that Hadley told Woodward that Wilson's wife was "a covert CIA officer." That seems dubious to me. If true, it would contradict Woodward's testimony. [Raw Story has now edited their original version and dropped the word "covert." They write: "Due to an editing error, the first edition of this article was unclear about whether Woodward was told Plame was covert. Woodward was only told she was a CIA analyst."]
If Hadley was Woodward's source, that also raises a number of other questions regarding Hadley's legal status. Hadley has been questioned by the FBI and has testified before the grand jury. Yet he clearly never testified (at least prior to Libby's indictment) to having discussed Wilson's wife with Bob Woodward in early June. So if this story is true, Hadley could be facing false statement, perjury, and/or obstruction charges. That would be true even if Hadley had previously been granted immunity (which I doubt he was). Immunity does not protect you from perjury charges.
And if Hadley was Woodward's source, that would certainly seem to increase the odds of him being Bob Novak and/or Walter Pincus' source as well. Woodward's description of his conversation with his source sounds an awful lot like Novak's description (at least his most recent description). If Raw Story is right about this, Stephen Hadley may be in some serious trouble.
UPDATE: The New York Times has a new story out on the Woodward revelation. Regarding the identity of Woodward's source, the Times has secured official denials from the President, Andrew Card, Karl Rove, Dan Bartlett, Colin Powell, George Tenet, and John McLaughlin. Spokesman for Dick Cheney and Marc Grossman refused to comment. Hadley is also mentioned as a possible source (along with a handful of other senior administration officials), but only in passing. If the Times suspects Hadley, they are sure hiding their suspicion well. Perhaps Raw Story has been had. Time will tell.
UPDATE II: It would appear Raw Story has been had. Reuters is reporting that the White House has denied that Hadley is Woodward's source.
Raw Story is reporting that National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley was the mysterious "senior administration official" who told Bob Woodward about Joe Wilson's wife back in June 2003. Raw Story has a mixed track record so far in the leak investigation, but much of what they've reported has panned out. They seem pretty sure of themselves on this one, and Hadley is certainly a plausible candidate. I'm tempted to believe them.
That said, the story also alleges that Hadley told Woodward that Wilson's wife was "a covert CIA officer." That seems dubious to me. If true, it would contradict Woodward's testimony. [Raw Story has now edited their original version and dropped the word "covert." They write: "Due to an editing error, the first edition of this article was unclear about whether Woodward was told Plame was covert. Woodward was only told she was a CIA analyst."]
If Hadley was Woodward's source, that also raises a number of other questions regarding Hadley's legal status. Hadley has been questioned by the FBI and has testified before the grand jury. Yet he clearly never testified (at least prior to Libby's indictment) to having discussed Wilson's wife with Bob Woodward in early June. So if this story is true, Hadley could be facing false statement, perjury, and/or obstruction charges. That would be true even if Hadley had previously been granted immunity (which I doubt he was). Immunity does not protect you from perjury charges.
And if Hadley was Woodward's source, that would certainly seem to increase the odds of him being Bob Novak and/or Walter Pincus' source as well. Woodward's description of his conversation with his source sounds an awful lot like Novak's description (at least his most recent description). If Raw Story is right about this, Stephen Hadley may be in some serious trouble.
UPDATE: The New York Times has a new story out on the Woodward revelation. Regarding the identity of Woodward's source, the Times has secured official denials from the President, Andrew Card, Karl Rove, Dan Bartlett, Colin Powell, George Tenet, and John McLaughlin. Spokesman for Dick Cheney and Marc Grossman refused to comment. Hadley is also mentioned as a possible source (along with a handful of other senior administration officials), but only in passing. If the Times suspects Hadley, they are sure hiding their suspicion well. Perhaps Raw Story has been had. Time will tell.
UPDATE II: It would appear Raw Story has been had. Reuters is reporting that the White House has denied that Hadley is Woodward's source.
posted by A.L. at 4:43 PM
4 Comments:
This strange blog surely is the wish [Hadley leaking] being father to the thought [Hadley in trouble.]
Hadley may not have been questioned re Woodward. In any event, Woodward didn't want to be part of this dubious enterprise because Woodward correctly regards it as trying to criminalize politics-----an old tactic of the radical left that the leftist MSM is eager to advance.
Woodward was quite straightforward on Larry King that Fitzpatrick is on a fool's errand.
The left's obsession with process derives from the complete bankruptcy of its policies---it must avoid substance to dodge its own creative void. Saying no seems the only strategy the Party of Minorities knows how to employ.
Other than frothing at the mouth at bogus mini-scandals.
How the hell does a guy like dave from boca even come across an enlightened blog like AL?
My take on Rawstory is that any time they source one of their Plame stories to intelligence officials, there is good reason to be very skeptical. I suspect those officials are the same gang of (justifiably) pissed off former CIA folks who have been feeding Richard Sale some bad info as well. They probably know a lot about the case, but not as much as they think, and they are seeking to do maximum political damage to Bush, so they give info to a few places they know will publish the stuff, Rawstory, I suspect, included.
What about Cheney? I was struck by the following in today's NYT. Note especially the third paragraph:
"A senior administration official said that neither President Bush himself, nor his chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., nor his counselor, Dan Bartlett, was Mr. Woodward's source. So did spokesmen for former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell; the former director of central intelligence, George J. Tenet; and his deputy, John E. McLaughlin.
"A lawyer for Karl Rove, the deputy White House chief of staff who has acknowledged conversations with reporters about the case and remains under investigation, said Mr. Rove was not Mr. Woodward's source.
"Mr. Cheney did not join the parade of denials. A spokeswoman said he would have no comment on a continuing investigation. Several other officials could not be reached for comment."
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