A former U.S. government officer tells me that he personally told a top ABC producer last year who called him for some reason, that Debat "is a phony." He says he was told by this producer, that Debat "had developed sources," and was proving himself, etc. etc. This is the same producer ABC has been reportedly planning to send to investigate Debat's stories.

Says the former US official who says he warned ABC about Debat: "What are they trying to accomplish [with their investigation?] They are going to meet with some alleged Pakistani intelligence official [Debat's source]? They are fishing in waters they do not understand."

Update: Spoke with the ABC producer, Rhonda Schwartz, who my former US government source remembers telling that Debat is a "phony." She says that she recollects the conversation and that he said that Debat is not former French intelligence. She said ABC already knew that he was a former French Ministry of Defense desk officer, a fact they had already verified with the Ministry more than once. 2) She says that the timing of the conversation occurred when Debat was already under review by ABC, a personnel matter she could not reveal to him at the time, although that was not the reason she had called him.

Former government officer agrees after talking with Schwartz that that is when the conversation about Debat took place.

ABC SVP Jeff Schneider says the investigation is being led by Kerry Smith, veteran reporter/producer, SVP, Editorial Quality for ABC News. Rhonda Schwartz is being sent to Pakistan to go and speak with sources on the ground there. Network insider adamant there is no talk of an independent investigation.

(This post have been updated).

Posted by Laura at September 16, 2007 10:30 AM