In her book, Ten Minutes from Normal, presidential counselor Karen Hughes explained her belief that Bob Novak learned about Valerie Plame from an administrative agency — not the White House — which we now know wasn’t the case. Still, Hughes seemed to appreciate the seriousness of the situation.
“But regardless of the source, the leak compromised the confidential identity of a longtime public servant, which was wrong, and unfair to her and those who worked with her. Whoever did it should come forward and not hide behind journalistic ethics for his or her self-protection.”
Couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, Hughes’ former colleagues don’t seem to agree.
Still, Hughes has an interesting role in this mess — which is about to be explored in more detail.
Hughes, like so many Bush aides, has spoken to prosecutors investigating the Plame case. It might seem odd to question an aide who wasn’t even at the White House by the time of the leak, but that’s what makes Hughes’ role intriguing.
We learned way back in March 2004 that Fitzgerald and his team took an interest in something called the White House “Iraq Group.” Newsday reported:
It met weekly in the Situation Room, the Post said, and its regular participants included senior political adviser Karl Rove; communication strategists Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin and James R. Wilkinson; legislative liaison Nicholas E. Calio; policy advisers led by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and her deputy Stephen J. Hadley; and I. Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
It’s hard to say how this ties in, but prosecutors’ interest in this group — which included Rove, Libby, and Hadley, Plame players all — suggests a pretty broad examination of the events that preceded the leak.
So, what did Hughes know? Dems are going to get a chance to find out. Bush nominated her to serve as the new Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, which requires Senate confirmation. Hughes’ hearing is today, at which she’ll be under oath. Expect a lot of questions about the investigation.
Update: Or perhaps not. Dems were supposed to go on the offensive this morning. Instead, they didn’t show up. There’s no excuse for wasting such a key opportunity.