No Indictment of Rove in CIA-Leak Case!

NRO ^ | 6/13/06 | Byron York

[The G Man]

June 13, 2006, 6:44 a.m.

No Indictment of Rove in CIA-Leak Case
Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald makes a decision.

By Byron York

Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has informed top White House adviser Karl Rove that Rove will not face indictment in the CIA-leak investigation, National Review Online has learned. The word came yesterday, when Fitzgerald told Rove lawyer Robert Luskin that he, Fitzgerald, did not plan to seek charges against Rove. This morning, Luskin released a brief statement:

 

On June 12, 2006, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove.

In deference to the pending case, we will not make any further public statements about the subject matter of the investigation. We believe that the Special Counsel’s decision should put an end to the baseless speculation about Mr. Rove’s conduct.

 Rove appeared five times before a grand jury investigating the CIA-leak case; the most recent was in April. Before appearing before the grand jury, Rove was interviewed by FBI agents assigned to the investigation. Fitzgerald’s inquiry, it appears, focused most intensely on the first two sessions — the FBI interview and the first grand-jury testimony.

The key question to be resolved by Fitzgerald was said to be whether to charge Rove in connection with his testimony regarding a brief July 11, 2003, conversation with Time magazine’s Matthew Cooper. In both his interview with the FBI and in his first grand jury appearance, Rove did not tell investigators about the conversation with Cooper. By the time Rove appeared for a second time before the grand jury, Rove had discovered evidence — an internal White House e-mail — showing that he did indeed talk to Cooper. Rove gave the evidence to Fitzgerald, who then questioned him about it at length.

Rove is thought to have testified that he simply did not remember the Cooper conversation until he discovered the e-mail. (Cooper himself described the talk as being about two minutes long and occurring right as Rove was leaving on vacation.) Supporting Rove’s contention was the fact that Rove, apparently, testified from the very beginning that he talked to columnist Robert Novak, which suggested he was not trying to hide his involvement in the case from Fitzgerald.

A decision by Fitzgerald — one way or the other — had been anticipated for months. There was widespread speculation that Rove might face charges for lying to Fitzgerald’s grand jury much like those filed by Fitzgerald last October against Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff. Now, it appears that will not happen. And so far, at least, no one has been charged with violating any of the underlying laws in the case — either the Intelligence Identities Protection Act or the Espionage Act.

Rove’s fate has been the subject of intense discussion among critics of the Bush administration. Perhaps foremost among them is former ambassador Joseph Wilson, whose wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was the CIA employee at the center of the affair. In August 2003, Wilson vowed to pursue Rove vigorously, saying, “At the end of the day it’s of keen interest to me to see whether or not we can get Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs.”

— Byron York, NR’s White House correspondent, is the author of The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy: The Untold Story of How Democratic Operatives, Eccentric Billionaires, Liberal Activists, and Assorted Celebrities Tried to Bring Down a President — and Why They’ll Try Even Harder Next Time.

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National Review Online - http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjQzM2QxZWFmNDRkMTBkZDg5ODI3OTNkNjgwYmJiZjc=

[FreedomPoster]

I actually hope not. Isn't Bush's "war council" still going on? They deperately need Tony's input in that. Our (non-) communication strategy is killing us, literally.

[Buffettfan]

Zarqawi is dead. No indictment for Rove. The democrats are definitley on suicide watch now.

[billhilly]

"My condolences to all you liberals and "real conservatievs" out there. But look at the bright side. There's a hurricane out there that may devastate Florida and the East Coast!"

A nice Menkenesque slice and dice.

[commonguymd]

“On June 12, 2006, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove."

[Incorrigible]

Thanks! I needed that!

[NImerc]

Wonder if Chris Matthews has any sick days left..

[The G Man]

From John Podhoritz over at NRO:

"Karl Rove won't say it, and his lawyer won't say it, but I'll say it: Patrick Fitzgerald's conduct in the Rove matter has been disgraceful. He kept Rove hanging for eight months with his bizarre game of keeping the Rove case "open" even though he claimed he did not expect any more indictments. I'd guess this cost Rove several hundred thousand dollars in legal fees and months of sleepless nights. Nice work, Patrick. You have once again reminded us why the misbegotten term "special prosecutor" should be considered an obscenity."

[Freee-dame]

Imus brought up the subject of Rove twice. Tim's first response: That's obviously good news for the White House" then shifted to Rove on the campaign trail. The second time TR said about Rove "clearly he's relieved" and one more slightly garbled sentence about Rove's having one more grand jury appearance. Then he quickly changed the subject again.

I wonder if TR's also relieved. I hope not. If he were a Republican, he would have been asked over and over how this related to HIS involvement in the investigation. Since he is a 'rat, this was just a friendly opportunity to get a couple of quotes out there.

[tiredoflaundry]

Someone is going to poke someones eye out with all the finger pointing over at the DUmp!

Junkdrawer (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-13-06 08:00 AM Original message Just a reminder: Jason Leopold did NOT get Rove off the hook... If you want to find out who did that, you'll need to look into names like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Judge Reggie Walton. Jason Leopold is simply a reporter who was given false tips, probably to have us believe that Jason Leopold is at fault for all of this. He's not. You may now return to your regularly scheduled flame wars.

[jackv]

Chris Matthews must be having a hissy!!

[COBOL2Java]

I am so perverse. I am hoping he looks all white and pasty because if Rove was not lying (which, of course, he wasn't), maybe Fitz will indict someone who actually was, like Mr. Potato Head.

If Russert will look all white and pasty, how will we know the difference? :0)

[black_diamond]

DU is having a Blue Fitzmas.

[mware]

The DUmmies will deny it and say an indictment is still possible.

In 24 hours????

Make that 24 business hours!

Oh I forgot about that, I guess we have to add the time for coffee breaks and lunch too.

[blitzgig]

Big BUMP for Rove! This is terrific news.

[Bahbah]

If Russert will look all white and pasty, how will we know the difference?

LOL. Good point.

[Mo1]

Gee ... I guess Jason got it wrong ... yet again *L*


Jason Leopold: (Rove) Indictments Are Sealed
Truthout/Sweetness & Light ^ | June 11, 2006 | N/A
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1648099/posts

[pj_627]

"DUmmie heads will now explode."


Yep, and it will be a lovely sight to behold. Great news to start the day on.

pattyjo

[andyandval]

[Sacajaweau]

Looks like the Dems have decided to move on....Valerie has her book deal. Joe and 006 have left DC. Hiilary is p***** that they couldn't get rid of Rove for 2008.

Wonder what will happen to Matt Cooper and wifie, Mandy Grunwald in the end.

[tiredoflaundry]

:-)