The Unknown Candidate: NSC, Cheney Aides Conspired to Out CIA Operative

Monday, February 20, 2006

NSC, Cheney Aides Conspired to Out CIA Operative

Jason Leopold's sources indicate that evidence is growing that a conspiracy of senior officials in the office of Vice President Cheney and the National Security Council plotted to out Valerie Plame Wilson's identity to the press in an attempt to undermine her husband's criticism of the administration's pre-war intelligence.

In recent weeks, investigators working for Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald have narrowed their focus to a specific group of officials who played a direct role in pushing the White House to cite bogus documents claiming that Iraq attempted to purchase 500 tons of uranium from Niger, which Plame Wilson's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had exposed as highly suspect.

One high level behind-the-scenes player who has been named by witnesses in the case as a possible source for reporters in the leak is Robert Joseph, formerly the director of nonproliferation at the National Security Council. Joseph is responsible for placing the infamous "sixteen words" about Iraq's attempt to purchase uranium from Niger in President Bush's January 2003 State of the Union address.

Sources indidate that Fitzgerald's investigation is expected to continue well into the spring. Sources also indicate that some of the new grand jury jurors have "raised numerous legal questions about unnamed secior Bush administration officials against whom Fitzgerald is trying to secure indictments." (I sure hope one of those names begins with a "C").

In a court filing made public Friday in response to a defense motion in which Libby's attorneys wanted Fitzgerald to turn over highly classified documents to assist the defense's case, Fitzgerald made it clear that Libby was not charged with conspiracy.

"Libby is not charged with conspiracy or any other offense involving acting in concert with others, and the indictment lists no un-indicted co-conspirators," states Fitzgerald's motion, which asks a judge to deny the defense motion seeking evidence Fitzgerald said is unrelated to Libby's criminal indictment.

That could change, however, the sources said, if there is enough evidence to support conspiracy charges.