CBS Asked Lockhart to Call Burkett

The Associated Press, which until now had been on the periphery of Memogate, has a huge scoop: CBS News producer Mary Mapes asked former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart to call up Bill Burkett shortly before CBS ran its story questioning President Bush's military record.

"Lockhart said Mapes asked him the weekend before the story broke to call Burkett. 'She basically said there's a guy who is being helpful on the story who wants to talk to you,' Lockhart said, adding that it was common knowledge that CBS was working on a story raising questions about Bush's Guard service. Mapes told him there were some records 'that might move the story forward. She didn't tell me what they said.'"

Lockhart is the second high-ranking national Democrat to have had direct contact with Burkett. Earlier, former senator Max Cleland of Georgia admitted that Burkett had called his personal mobile phone and peddled his memo story.

Hat tip: Hugh Hewitt.

UPDATE: A commenter points out something we forgot to add: Joe Lockhart is one of the key advisers of the John Kerry for President campaign. Looks like the editors of PoliDock.com will have to update their "Web of Connections" graphic.

UPDATE: USA Today reports that Burkett told the paper that he refused to give CBS the forged documents until it gave him a direct link to a top Kerry campaign adviser. This is a huge development, folks. Mapes was willing to directly help Burkett with his political agenda in order to pursue her own political agenda.

Lockhart is obviously toast and now, it's certain that Mapes will be fired. The real question is, now, what did Dan Rather know and when did he know it?

UPDATE: It's worth pointing out that Lockhart was not officially on the Kerry staff at the time of his conversation with Burkett. Cleland was, however.