A new name has popped up during Robert Novak’s testimony in the Libby trial. Novak’s famous “Valerie Plame” column was published on Monday, July 14, 2003. A few minutes ago, Novak testified that he actually wrote the column on Friday morning, July 11, 2003. The column was embargoed for publication until July 14. But Novak testified that on the afternoon of the 11th, he sent a copy of the column to a friend of his, Washington lobbyist Rick Hohlt. “He is a lobbyist and a very close friend of him, and I talk to him about every day,” Novak testified.

“Have you described Mr. Hohlt before as a gossip?” asked defense attorney Ted Wells.

“I wouldn’t be that critical,” Novak said. “He talks to a lot of people every day about a lot of things.”

The question then became, did Novak know whether Hohlt had told anyone about the article, which contained the fact that Valerie Plame Wilson worked for the CIA? “I have a vague recollection that [Hohlt] indicated that he had told the White House, whoever the White House was, that there was an interesting piece coming up,” Novak said, adding that he believed Hohlt told him that on Friday afternoon.