(2005-10-16) — Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who has devoted two years to investigating who leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Wilson, has reportedly narrowed his probe in the past week to focus on who unmasked a covert blogging operation at The New York Times.

Bloggers, the generally cranky, rumor-mongering pseudo pundits who lack editorial oversight, expressed shock this week to learn that The New York Times itself had secretly employed former reporter Judith Miller as a blogger who operated behind the facade of the Times’ masthead.

As word of the reporter’s secret mission began to trickle from the newsroom, the paper yesterday was forced to ‘out’ itself in a nearly 6,000-word piece that fanned the flame of controversy surrounding Ms. Miller’s covert activities.

According to the article, the formerly-respected journalist had allegedly been doing whatever she wanted at the Times, much to the annoyance of her colleagues, without submitting to the controlling influence of editors.

Editorial oversight, experts say, is the key distinction between journalists and bloggers.

Mr. Fitzgerald will now reportedly seek a warrant to search Ms. Miller’s home and office in an attempt to confirm her blogger status before pursuing the source of the leak.

One unnamed Justice Department official said, “If they find a computer and a pair of pajamas in this same room, Fitzgerald will have all he needs to establish intent to blog.”

The journalist who first revealed Valerie Wilson’s CIA employment, columnist Robert Novak, remains at large.

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