The reason is that during the appeals he is still subject to be called and in a much different context. Nevertheless Russert - like the rest of the clueless left - still thinks as goes Libby so goes Dick Cheney. Newsbusters covers Russert on NBC’s Today:

“Discussing the trial with NBC host-turned-star-prosecution-witness Tim Russert [file photo], Meredith displayed and read this quotation from Republican strategist [and former Dole campaign manager] Scott Reed that appeared in a New York Times article this morning:

“The trial has been death by 1,000 cuts for Cheney. It’s hurt him inside the administration. It’s hurt him with the Congress, and it’s hurt his stature around the world because it has shown a lot of the inner workings of the White House. It peeled the bark right off the way they operate.”

Vieira then asked Russert: “Is this the beginning of the end, do you believe, for the Vice President?”

Russert did nothing to deflect the notion: “The president is on record saying that if anyone leaked information like this, they would be dealt with. It appears that Mr. Cheney gave Mr. Libby the information. As Kelly [O'Donnell] reported, Mr. Armitage and Mr. Rove shared information with reporters. And so the president now has to come to grips with that, and recognize that having made a committment to deal with that, how will he do that?”

News for Russert. Cheney telling his COS about Plame isn’t a leak, it’s priviledged communication between the VP and his counsel. NB notes that Russert - like the rest of the MSM - ignore the fact that Armitage in fact was the leaker, but of course there is no tie to Cheney thus in their BDS - irrevelant.