For a while now, the GOP has been floating the "legal technicality" defense regarding the Plame Investigation (now indictments). Basically, the leak had no teeth, so Fitzgerald chased down a lesser charge to cover his tracks. However, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, "You go with the indictments you HAVE, not the indictments you might want."
During Fitzgerald's press conference, it became clear that he was intensely interested in only bringing indictments that he felt confident in prosecuting successfully. Interestingly, he made some crucial points about the indictments he did issue.
On the issue of the future, he reiterated time and again how important it was to protect the secrecy and privacy of targets up to the point of indictment. If he couldn't make an indictment stick, there would be NO charges, nor ANY revelations about the target. In a not-too-veiled dig at Kenneth Starr, he deflated hopes that a report was forthcoming that would shine the light on other targets or the full breadth of the investigation.
So Karl's future is far from certain. You can bet that if he was completely in the clear, words to that effect would have been offered by Bush, Cheney, Luskin and Rove himself. Didn't happen. What does appear apparent is that the leak charge is probably too sticky to prosecute effectively. Since no one else was stupid enough to perjure themselves, it may be that Libby will be taking the fall alone.
Of course, if Scooter flips on someone...
During Fitzgerald's press conference, it became clear that he was intensely interested in only bringing indictments that he felt confident in prosecuting successfully. Interestingly, he made some crucial points about the indictments he did issue.
- National security was at the heart of the leak charge. CIA operatives have dangerous jobs and about the only security our nation can offer NOCs is that their identity won't be revealed. The leak was despicable and our safety has been threatened because of it. He also subtly implied that the specifics of the law may be too vague and narrow as written.
- The indictments are for serious crimes in and of themselves. The nature of these alleged crimes made it difficult, perhaps impossible, to discern the empirical truth of the original charge.
- If it is impossible to prove the original leak charge, justice will be served by a conviction on the indicted charges. Fitzgerald appears very confident about the indictments he has issued, and based on the 22 pages, one understands why.
On the issue of the future, he reiterated time and again how important it was to protect the secrecy and privacy of targets up to the point of indictment. If he couldn't make an indictment stick, there would be NO charges, nor ANY revelations about the target. In a not-too-veiled dig at Kenneth Starr, he deflated hopes that a report was forthcoming that would shine the light on other targets or the full breadth of the investigation.
So Karl's future is far from certain. You can bet that if he was completely in the clear, words to that effect would have been offered by Bush, Cheney, Luskin and Rove himself. Didn't happen. What does appear apparent is that the leak charge is probably too sticky to prosecute effectively. Since no one else was stupid enough to perjure themselves, it may be that Libby will be taking the fall alone.
Of course, if Scooter flips on someone...
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