Why hasn't Robert Novak been arrested?

[jokerswild]

Six other reporters and their news agencies refused to break the law when two "senior White House" sources decided to commit felonious acts by outing a CIA operative. Why should Robert Novak be given a pass?

[David Steele]

He is a right winger.

D.

[Chris Alger]

1. It's not clear from the public record that the undercover agent disclosure statute has actually been broken. Some law appears to have been broken, although it could just be the prohibition against disclosing classified information. Although Plame worked undercover, the statute requires some foreign activity during the last five years. Her current posting reportedly is Langley.

2. Journalists can't be prosecuted simply for publishing classified information given to them. (They can be restrained from publishing it only under rare circumstances). Journalists are expressly exempt from the undercover agent disclosure statute.