Looks like Michael Isikoff and David Corn has made a huge discovery in the investigation into the leak of Valerie Plame's identity. As Corn points out, the discovery that Richard Armitage was behind the initial leak provides important new details in the case. Corn's conclusion about what it all means? Take a look:
The outing of Armitage does change the contours of the leak case. The initial leaker was not plotting vengeance. He and Powell had not been gung-ho supporters of the war. Yet Bush backers cannot claim the leak was merely an innocent slip. Rove confirmed the classified information to Novak and then leaked it himself as part of an effort to undermine a White House critic. Afterward, the White House falsely insisted that neither Rove nor Libby had been involved in the leak and vowed that anyone who had participated in it would be bounced from the administration. Yet when Isikoff and Newsweek in July 2005 revealed a Matt Cooper email showing that Rove had leaked to Cooper, the White House refused to acknowledge this damning evidence, declined to comment on the case, and did not dismiss Rove. To date, the president has not addressed Rove's role in the leak. It remains a story of ugly and unethical politics, stonewalling, and lies.
Remember that this is a president who came to office with promises to "restore honor and integrity to the White House." Apparently someone should have asked him to define his terms, because clearly there's been some sort of misunderstanding here...
UPDATE: More from Laura Rozen.
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