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The Situation: Friday, September 30Editor's Note: The Situation Report is a running log of dispatches, quotes, links and behind-the-scenes notes filed by the correspondents and producers of CNN's Washington Bureau. Watch "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer on CNN 3 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET weekdays. The Morning GrindOn CNN TV
RelatedSEND YOUR COMMENTSYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSPosted: 8:50 a.m. ET Which one is the big get? Our thoughts today are with Sunday show bookers wherever they may be. We're sure they are dialing as fast as their fingers can dial, because there is a whole lot going on for a Friday in an off-year. New York Times reporter Judith Miller will testify today in front of a federal grand jury investigating the Valerie Plame leak. Ms. Miller was released from jail yesterday, following a conversation with Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and an agreement with prosecutors that, "satisfied my obligation as a reporter to keep faith with my sources," she said. More on that below. There's buzzing in the beltway about a possible power-grab by House Republicans, despite promises of innocence and a quick return by majority leader-in-exile Tom DeLay. Plus, there's a countdown to a nomination for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's seat, which could happen as soon as Monday. That leaves approximately 72 hours for last minute threats, promises, and other messages to President Bush regarding his pick. Then there's former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett, who defended himself in the wake of a statement-bomb, "If you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossibly ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down," he said. Democrats, including leaders Senator Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, were quick to condemn Mr. Bennett's comment. However, CNN caught up with Bennett on the street last night and he said, "I was putting forward a hypothetical proposition. Put that forward. Examined it. And then said about it that it's morally reprehensible. To recommend abortion of an entire group of people in order to lower your crime rate is morally reprehensible. But this is what happens when you argue that the ends can justify the means," he told CNN. Asked if he owed people an apology, Bennett replied, "I don't think I do. I think people who misrepresented my view owe me an apology." Meanwhile, CNN's Dana Bash got a glimpse into the conversation between Judith Miller and Scooter Libby that may have led to Ms. Miller's agreement to testify in front of a grand jury, and consequently her release from jail. According to Mr. Libby's attorney, Joseph Tate, Ms. Miller's attorney Robert Bennett set up the call on September 19, and both attorneys listened in. "Scooter said to her 'Judy, Joe Tate talked to Floyd Abrams more than a year ago and said its voluntary, Joe assured me you understood,'" Tate recalled of the conversation. "'But we want you to know the waiver was voluntary.'" Tate said Miller responded that she and Abrams had talked about it but that she was not willing to "'rely on lawyers'." Libby then responded "'well why didn't someone call us,'" "There was no answer," said Tate. Tate did not know why it took 10 days to release Miller after her conversation with Libby. Ms. Miller will be at the U.S. District Court around 10 this morning and will make a statement to the assembled media outside following her testimony to the grand jury. President Bush will attend a farewell ceremony for Joint Chiefs Chair Richard Myers, who is retiring. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will be there as well. The ceremony will feature a multi-service parade and a flyover for the Harley-riding Myers. After that, Mr. Bush heads to Camp David for the weekend. Secretary of State Rice gives a speech on the War on Terror at Princeton University today. And finally, for those Russia House lovers, a mournful announcement yesterday from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, banning the import of Beluga caviar. Opt for the perogies instead - they go great with any of the tasty vodka concoctions. Political Hot TopicsPosted: 8:45 a.m. ET JUDY FREE; SCOOTER WAS THE SOURCE: Judith Miller, the reporter for The New York Times who has been jailed since July 6 for refusing to testify in the C.I.A. leak case, was released Thursday from a Virginia detention center after she and her lawyers reached an agreement with a federal prosecutor in which she would testify before a grand jury investigating the case. Her decision to testify was made after she had obtained what she described as a waiver offered "voluntarily and personally" by a source who said she was no longer bound by any pledge of confidentiality she had made to him. That source was I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, according to people who have been officially briefed on the case. New York Times: Times Reporter Free From Jail; She Will Testify NEW NAME SHOULD COME NEXT WEEK: President Bush is holding a short list of candidates, believed topped by women and minorities, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court and join new Chief Justice John Roberts. White House advisers now say an announcement probably will not come until next week. That timeline allows the spotlight to remain on the administration's success in getting Roberts confirmed in a 78-22 vote and promptly sworn in. Advocacy groups on the right are expecting Bush to name a solid conservative. Liberal groups are making a late push for a moderate. AP via Yahoo! News: Bush Likely to Name 2nd Nominee Next Week DeLAY GETS OCT. 21 COURT DATE: A state district court judge Thursday in Austin ordered Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, to appear in court on Oct. 21. DeLay's lawyers have said they don't want him to be handcuffed, photographed and fingerprinted when he appears in Austin. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle said it was up to the court to decide how DeLay would be arraigned. DeLay also could waive going before a magistrate to have his rights and charges read to him. His attorney wants to go to trial before year's end. KWTX: DeLay Gets October Court Date NOT THE NEXT MARTHA: People who think that Martha Stewart got burned because of who she was, not what she did, should watch closely what's happening with Bill Frist. Appropriate questions have been raised about whether the Senate majority leader improperly sold stock benefiting a medical company with family ties. As with Stewart, these questions have to do with timing. Why did Frist sell stock when he did? The answer to a similar question posed to Stewart landed the millionaire businesswoman in prison. Will millionaire Dr. Frist be taken down the same road for his ill-timed dump of Hospital Corporation of America stock? Not likely. Miami Herald: Frist won't be treated as Stewart has been BENNETT IN HOT WATER: Democratic lawmakers and civil rights leaders denounced conservative commentator William J. Bennett yesterday for suggesting on his syndicated radio show that aborting black children would reduce the U.S. crime rate. The former U.S. education secretary-turned-talk show host said Wednesday that "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." Bennett quickly added that such an idea would be "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do." But, he said, "your crime rate would go down." Washington Post: Bennett Under Fire for Remark on Crime and Black Abortions 
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