The Plot Thickens

AJ is on the trail of the leaker:

Republicans had to have known we’d be looking to change the national debate,” says a House Democrat leadership aide. “You had our leadership looking at cratering polling numbers. A majority within grasp wasn’t drifting away, it was being yanked back by Republicans. I wouldn’t be surprised if Foley had to be bumped up on the scandal schedule. That makes a lot of sense given where we were two weeks ago, and where we are now.”

This seems to be a bit of crowing by the Dem leadership aide about how well their efforts worked, even though they had to pull the trigger on the Foley scandal sooner than they wanted to. So who was this leadership aide? Well, Gateway Pundit has a lead on who that might be - and possible connection to the leak itself and who shopped it to the media for nearly a year - courtesy Erik at Redstate:

In August of 2004, Rodney Alexander’s Chief of Staff, Brian Smoot, and five other staffers abruptly quit because Alexander switched to the GOP. National Journal reported on August 13, 2004, that the Chief of Staff “sharply criticized Alexander for switching parties.” The Chief of Staff and five staffers were promptly hired by minority leader Nancy Pelosi.

So we have a Dem leadership aide who also has contacts inside Alexander’s office. Coincidnce? Is this why Pelosi refused to testify under oath or on a polygraph?

Yes, just what did Nancy know and when did she know it? And was it all an elaborate hoax using Foley's pathetic secrets to bring down the leadership?