Report: Rove Close To Indictment
A new report by Jason Leopold in Truthout says that Plamegate Special Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald is preparing to ask the grand jury to vote on a list of charges against Karl Rove.
Despite vehement denials by his attorney who said this week that Karl Rove is neither a "target" nor in danger of being indicted in the CIA leak case, the special counsel leading the investigation has already written up charges against Rove, and a grand jury is expected to vote on whether to indict the Deputy White House Chief of Staff sometime next week, sources knowledgeable about the probe said Friday afternoon...
Luskin was informed via a target letter that Fitzgerald is prepared to charge Rove for perjury and lying to investigators during Rove's appearances before the grand jury in 2004 and in interviews with investigators in 2003 when he was asked how and when he discovered that Valerie Plame Wilson worked for the CIA, and whether he shared that information with the media...
In the event that an indictment is handed up by the grand jury it would be filed under seal. A press release would then be issued by Fitzgerald's press office indicating that the special prosecutor will hold a news conference, likely on a Friday afternoon, sources close to the case said. The media would be given more than 24 hours notice of a press conference, sources added...
In recent weeks, sources close to the case said, Fitzgerald's staff has met with Rove's legal team several times to discuss a change in Rove's status in the case--from subject to target--based on numerous inconsistencies in Rove's testimony, whether he discussed Plame Wilson with reporters before her name and CIA status were published in newspaper reports, and whether he participated in a smear campaign against her husband...
As of Friday afternoon, sources close to the case said, it appeared likely that charges of obstruction of justice would be added to the prepared list of charges...
Rove has been questioned by FBI investigators and grand jurors on ten different occasions since October 2003. The time he has spent under oath exceeds 20 hours, sources said, adding that he answered a wide-range of questions about intelligence the White House used to win support for the Iraq war.
Rove made a horrendous mistake by agreeing to talk to the FBI in the first place.
In over 20 hours of questioning, he is certain to have tried to lie or otherwise mislead the investigators.
That's the reason guilty people are advised never to speak with law enforcement. The crook may think that he can talk his way out of trouble, but 99% of the time, the suspect ends up incriminating himself.
Despite vehement denials by his attorney who said this week that Karl Rove is neither a "target" nor in danger of being indicted in the CIA leak case, the special counsel leading the investigation has already written up charges against Rove, and a grand jury is expected to vote on whether to indict the Deputy White House Chief of Staff sometime next week, sources knowledgeable about the probe said Friday afternoon...
Luskin was informed via a target letter that Fitzgerald is prepared to charge Rove for perjury and lying to investigators during Rove's appearances before the grand jury in 2004 and in interviews with investigators in 2003 when he was asked how and when he discovered that Valerie Plame Wilson worked for the CIA, and whether he shared that information with the media...
In the event that an indictment is handed up by the grand jury it would be filed under seal. A press release would then be issued by Fitzgerald's press office indicating that the special prosecutor will hold a news conference, likely on a Friday afternoon, sources close to the case said. The media would be given more than 24 hours notice of a press conference, sources added...
In recent weeks, sources close to the case said, Fitzgerald's staff has met with Rove's legal team several times to discuss a change in Rove's status in the case--from subject to target--based on numerous inconsistencies in Rove's testimony, whether he discussed Plame Wilson with reporters before her name and CIA status were published in newspaper reports, and whether he participated in a smear campaign against her husband...
As of Friday afternoon, sources close to the case said, it appeared likely that charges of obstruction of justice would be added to the prepared list of charges...
Rove has been questioned by FBI investigators and grand jurors on ten different occasions since October 2003. The time he has spent under oath exceeds 20 hours, sources said, adding that he answered a wide-range of questions about intelligence the White House used to win support for the Iraq war.
Rove made a horrendous mistake by agreeing to talk to the FBI in the first place.
In over 20 hours of questioning, he is certain to have tried to lie or otherwise mislead the investigators.
That's the reason guilty people are advised never to speak with law enforcement. The crook may think that he can talk his way out of trouble, but 99% of the time, the suspect ends up incriminating himself.
posted by Effwit at 8:25 AM
4 Comments:
But would there have been anyway for Rove to have been able to avoid speaking to the FBI? Wasn't he between a rock and a hard place?
(...speaking as someone who just got a $30 ticket because I went 20 minutes over the time allowed on the parking meter ... I'm very upset with all law enforcement people right now...)
Dena
Dena:
But would there have been anyway for Rove to have been able to avoid speaking to the FBI?
Politically no. Legally yes.
A lovely aspect of the American system is the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
Nobody has to talk to law enforcement. Despite the Miranda Warning (articulating the rights of a criminal suspect to refuse to self-incriminate), which is shown on crime dramas and crime documentaries, most Americans don't have the common sense to invoke their rights.
It would have looked bad politically for Rove to invoke his constitutional right to remain silent, but there is no doubt whatsoever that he would be better off right now if he had.
Sorry to hear about your ticket.
Smile,
Your Friend.
Thanks for that explanation, Mr. F. I've seen my share of U.S. crime dramas where the suspect invokes the Fifth. But, as you say, politically Rove would have had a very hard time doing that. -- But, again, if what you say is true (that he would have been better off taking the 5th)... the fact that he didn't must mean he isn't as smart as legend would have us believe.
My ticket is fading from my memory now -- but it sure stung when I got it!
Regards,
Dena
Dena:
At the time Rove first lied to the FBI, there was no indication that a Special Prosecutor (Fitzgerald) would be appointed.
The investigation was still under the supervision of then-Attorney General John Ashcroft. Rove clearly figured that Mr Ashcroft would arrange for the matter to be swept under the rug.
When the matter went to the Independent Counsel (Fitzgerald), Rove figured he should keep the lie going, so as not to be accused of perjury for his earlier testimony if he changed his story.
That's the reason, I believe, that Fitzgerald has made Rove testify under oath so many times. He knows Rove is lying, and each time is further perjuring himself.
I believe that the reason that Bush's press secretary (McClellan) resigned the same day that Rove lost his policy job in the White House is that McClellan didn't want to have to face the press (after assuring them that Rove played no role in leaking Ms. Plame's name) when Rove gets indicted.
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