Political columnist Robert Novak, died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer that was diagnosed in July 2008. He was 78.
A die-hard conservative, he became well-known for his stint as co-host of CNN's "Crossfire." Robert Novak had also been a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times for decades.
Recently however, Robert Novak became involved in a scandal that ended up with "Scooter" Libby being convicted in a court trial, although his sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush. That is indeed what you are thinking of the Valerie Plame CIA leak case.
Robert Novak was the first to publish Valerie Plame's name as a CIA agent. He came under huge amounts of criticism for that July 14, 2003 column. In reality, someone else would have published the information, if Novak had not, but he called that incident the start of "a long and difficult episode" in his career.
Robert Novak's article was published just eight days after Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, said the Bush administration had twisted prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat of nuclear weapons.
In the article, Robert Novak cited two Bush administration officials, revealing that Plame worked for the CIA, blowing her cover. As I noted earlier, an investigation into the leak eventually led to the conviction of "Scooter" Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.
While a lifelong conservative, Robert Novak disagreed with the right on many issues, including doubts about invading Afghanistan. He also frequently criticized the war in Iraq.
Notice of his death was announced by Robert Novak's wife of 47 years, Geraldine Novak.
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