Novak sorry for outburst, denies link to CIA case: Reuters

[SteveMacD]

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Robert Novak apologized Friday for swearing on the air and walking off a CNN set, but said it had nothing to do with the federal probe sparked by his revelation of a CIA officer's name in a 2003 column.

"I apologize for my conduct and I'm sorry I did it," the conservative commentator said in an interview.

CNN has pulled him off the air indefinitely. Novak said, "I'll follow their guidance" on when he returns.

"Inside Politics" anchor Ed Henry said afterward that he had been about to ask Novak about his role in the investigation of the leak of Valerie Plame's identity, which Novak has repeatedly refused to comment on aside from some references in his column.

"That had nothing to do with it, absolutely nothing," Novak said. "I was sorry he said that."

Novak's outburst happened 10 minutes before the end of the show in the midst of an exchange among Novak, Henry and liberal analyst James Carville. They were talking about the possible Senate candidacy of Florida congresswoman Katherine Harris when Carville needled Novak and tried to interrupt.

"He's got to show the right-wingers that he's got backbone," Carville said. "Go ahead, the Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching. Show them you're tough."

Novak, shown on the screen sitting next to Carville, waved his right hand and replied: "I think that's bull----, and I hate that. Just let it go." While Henry addressed another question to Carville, Novak stood up, walked off the set behind Carville -- fully visible to viewers -- and apparently pulled off his microphone. Henry and Carville didn't miss a beat.

"Bob Novak's behavior on CNN today was inexcusable and unacceptable," a CNN spokeswoman said. "Mr. Novak has apologized to CNN, and CNN apologizes to its viewers for his language and actions. We've asked Mr. Novak to take some time off."

It wasn't clear how long Novak would be off the network, where he has appeared since 1980. A CNN executive said Thursday night that it was a mutual decision between CNN and Novak.

In recent months two of Novak's politically oriented shows -- the weekday "Crossfire" and weekend "The Capital Gang" -- have been canceled. "Inside Politics" will go off the air today to make way for CNN's "The Situation Room," the network's new three-hour, late-afternoon news show.

CNN declined further comment; Carville couldn't be reached for comment.

The veteran political commentator and newspaper columnist has been under fire in recent months for his role in the identification of CIA operative Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and Bush critic Joseph Wilson. Novak's column identified her, but he hasn't been under the same scrutiny from the leak investigators that jailed New York Times reporter Judith Miller and forced Time reporter Matthew Cooper to testify before a grand jury.

Novak's involvement hasn't been determined, and his refusal to discuss the matter publicly has drawn criticism from many quarters, and it was just two weeks ago at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour that CNN executives said they backed Novak.

While neither Henry nor Carville acknowledged Novak's departure in the segment, Henry noted near the end of "Inside Politics" that the columnist had left the set early.

"I had told him in advance that we were going to ask him about the CIA leak case," Henry said. "He was not here for me to able to ask him about that, and hopefully we'll be able to ask him about that in the future."