EXTRA: Bob Woodward traded journalistic principles for access to power (and a string of political best sellers)

Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward has often referred to the “imperial presidency” to describe the accretion of power in the executive at the expense of the (constitutionally co-equal) judiciary and legislative braches of the U.S. government.

But given the startling revelations this week about his role in the CIA leak investigation, one might now refer to the “imperial journalist” to describe Woodward’s imperious attitude towards fellow reporters. Because, whilst they were being grilled by federal prosecutors about what they knew and when they knew it – concerning the identity of covert agent Valerie Plame, Woodward was sitting above the fray on Larry King and Meet the Press pontification about the journalistic and judicial merits of the investigation.

Yet, incredulously, we now know that, despite watching the incarceration of reporter Judith Miller of the New York Times for refusing to disclose the confidential source who leaked Plame’s identity to her and the indictment of VP Cheney’s Chief of Staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby for being that source, Woodward neglected to inform federal prosecutors that someone else in the White House (none other than President Bush’s Chief of Staff Andrew Card) had, in fact, leaked Plame’s identity to him long before Libby is alleged to have leaked it to Miller.

Remarkably, instead of coming forward – in the name of truth and justice (and to spare the country 2 years of senseless political intrigue and millions in legal expenses – to say nothing of sparing fellow journalist Miller months behind bars on contempt charges), Woodward claims that he withheld this exculpatory information simply because he did not want to get caught up in the federal investigation….

But, whatever his personal reasons, Woodward’s colleagues at the Post are hardly sympathetic. Indeed, Jonathan Yardley probably expressed their collective disappointment (and feelings of betrayal) when he lamented – in an internal memo leaked, ironically, to the press – that the publishers of the paper have indulged Woodward’s imperial prerogatives to such extremes that he now assumes he’s bigger than the Post itself…let alone fellow reporters.

Well, here’s to your long-overdue federal subpoena Bob. Because the prosecutor who indicted Libby and jailed Miller announced yesterday that he’s empaneling a new grand jury to come after you (and your White House leaker Mr. Card?)….

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