Reply #92: The difference as I see it is... [View All]

...that in Plame, the exposing of the name of the covert operative is the crime and this is in contrast to the covering up of a crime as found in Watergate.

So, if a WH source attempts to use a journalist to perpetrate the crime ~ i.e., the publishing of the name of the covert agent, Plame ~ then that is not merely a source about a crime which has taken place, but the use of the journalist as a tool to perpetuate the crime. And IF the journalist knew at the time of giving out the information that it was a crime to do so, then the journalist is guilty of the crime as well. ("Res geste" issue here.)

To me, that is VERY different from the situation of Watergate when the info was leaked by Deep Throat. The crimes had been committed and were on-going and Deep Throat by revealing this was not participating in the crime itself, but exposing it to journalists who were investigating the same.

Big difference, IMO.