Columnist Says Rove Was a Source

WASHINGTON — Columnist Robert Novak said publicly for the first time Tuesday that White House political advisor Karl Rove was a source for his story outing the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame.

In a column, Novak also says his recollection of his conversation with Rove differs from what the Rove camp has said.

"I have revealed Rove's name because his attorney has divulged the substance of our conversation, though in a form different from my recollection," Novak wrote.

A spokesman for Rove's legal team, Mark Corallo, said that Rove did not know Plame's name at the time he spoke with Novak.