The Washington Post's ombudsman rebuked journalist Bob Woodward on Sunday for withholding what he knew about the CIA leak probe from his editor and for making public statements that were dismissive of the investigation without disclosing his own involvement.
Woodward revealed last week that he had testified under oath to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that a senior George W. Bush administration official told him in mid-June 2003 about CIA operative Valerie Plame's position at the agency.
Fitzgerald announced a few days later in court papers that his two-year criminal investigation into who leaked Plame's identity would be going back before a federal grand jury, a sign he may seek new or revised charges.
The name of Woodward's source has yet to be made public and so far more than a dozen senior administration officials have denied any involvement in the leak.
Asked on Fox News Sunday if he ever spoke to Woodward about Plame, secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld said, "No, of course not."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a similar denial through a spokesman on Saturday.
In a column highly critical of Woodward's conduct, Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell said the newspaper took a "hit to its credibility" and called for more oversight of Woodward's work.
"He has to operate under the rules that govern the rest of the staff -- even if he's rich and famous," Howell wrote of Woodward, one of the two Washington Post reporters famed for coverage of the 1970s Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.
Howell said Woodward committed a "deeply serious sin" by keeping Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie in the dark about his source for more than two years.
"He also committed another journalistic sin -- commenting on National Public Radio and [CNN's] Larry King Live about the Plame investigation without disclosing his early knowledge of Plame's identity," Howell wrote.
In a series of television and radio interviews before publicly disclosing his involvement in the leak case, Woodward described the case as laughable and Fitzgerald's behavior as "disgraceful."
One day before Fitzgerald brought charges against Vice President Dick Cheney's long-time chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Woodward said he saw no evidence of criminal intent.
"He [Woodward] made a mistake going on television, giving his opinions about the investigation. ... He shouldn't have been expressing those opinions," Downie said on CNN's Reliable Sources.
"Last week we found out that he kept the kind of information from Downie that is a deeply serious sin not to disclose to a boss -- the kind that can get even a very good reporter in the doghouse for a long time," she wrote.
"Readers in droves wrote that they were angry and disappointed. That disappointment was rife in the Post's newsroom, too," Howell wrote.
Many readers said Woodward should be fired or disciplined, Howell said. But Downie called those suggestions "ridiculous."
"Our readers have gained so much from the depth of his work," Downie was quoted as saying. "His total work and reliability outweigh one mistake."
Joseph Wilson, who is Plame's husband, has called for an inquiry by the Washington Post into Woodward's conduct, citing a similar investigation by the New York Times into the conduct of reporter Judith Miller.
Howell noted that Woodward was not the usual Post staffer. Even though his official title is assistant managing editor, he has no management duties.
Woodward apologized to Downie last week, saying he had kept quiet to protect his sources.
Fitzgerald signaled on Friday he expected more grand jury testimony, a move that will spark speculation that he may still be planning new charges.
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