I wonder if Hoover got himself WAY further into this situation than he imagined when he knocked on the A door.
Just for a possibility, let's say he really was just in this looking for a "big break" and getting some scoop to profit from down the road, and that's why he first knocked on the door, unknown to any of them, it seemed, and offered to "help."
Then he finds himself all embroiled in this situation, realizes he's "out-shadied" by a whole other cast of less than upright characters, and now realizes he's in far further than "helping out" and "getting a story" for later...that there is some even sketchier stuff going on (think all the same reasons MN may well have bailed shortly after all this occurred).
How's he going to back out now? Oh, ok, I rescind my offer of help? He knows too much for them to let that fly. So he is stuck (due to his own initial shadiness, as well). If he's really NOT someone with any true experience, he may not have really believed that the "tips" were (perhaps) real and from Casey, and that it wasn't just another wild goose chase type thing, and so then winds up in the spot, maybe unaware this wasn't more "charades"
When all of this breaks in December and he realizes they really WERE in the right spot (or very near) he doesn't know what to do. He obviously had a falling out with DC (to whatever extent they had a "working relationship" earlier) and knows the rest of the crew is likely looking at a boatload of trouble.
Who does he go to? The only person who's been visible and public AND seems to have some ties to LE/FBI...so as much as he didn't likely know LP very well, and probably didn't trust him, I could see it likely being pure desperation.
So he goes to LP, shows him PART of the tape, enough for LP to realize they were close and he (H) really did know something from the inside, and asks LP his best course of action, could he still profit (his original plan) or did he wind up more involved than he originally intended, and perhaps ask for a contact.
I doubt he really trusted LP, and I doubt LP isn't adding a big of "bling" to his story because it makes for better TV. I imagine Hoover still did ask about selling it or what he should do with the film, I'd like to hope he asked that IN CONJUNCTION with asking who (in LE or FBI) to turn it over to, and that LP just leaves that out and talks about the selling it still. Obviously LP's story, while still big, is far more "media fodder" if it includes the guy is still solely trying to profit. If that really were the case, though, you'd think he'd just have gone to the media and never bothered involving LP to begin with.
I suspect Hoover got himself way in over his head with his shadiness in the beginning, and suddenly found himself possessing what could be case making information and didn't have a clue the best course of action.
I don't know...just the scenario I can see in my head, since you're right, he didn't choose a person known for his "keeping interesting information to himself" skills :crazy:
Plus...going to LP got it public, which also caused panic and chaos among the A-tied gang, and also had it WELL spread that this was out there and MAY be valuable, upping the pressure on the A gang, and increasing H's own "usefulness" which may well (have?) help(ed?) get him some degree (or complete) immunity for cooperating and turning it over.
QUESTION
Why would Hoover tell LP that he knew Caylee was there all along if he didn't trust LP with this kind of information.
If LP is telling the truth about the conversation between him & Hoover I'm just curious as to what prompted Hoover to think he could trust LP not to go straight to the Authorities.
LP said that Hoover was more interested in selling the video. Did he think that LP would be open to this sort of thing & give him advice on who to call?
It's just odd that Hoover would approach a man he just met recently with this kind of knowledge.