|
But there is a good chance that Bush will not be able to continue to rely on Rove because Rove probably lied to the grand jury. He's going to be very busy for a while. Rove will at least face more interrogation in a criminal action along with others who may have conspired to out the CIA agent. After all, Rove was told this information about Plame by someone. He's going to have to tell how he found out, what he found out and who told him. Surely he did not know himself that Plame was a wmd agent for the CIA. Even if Rove claims he did not know that Plame was undercover, someone did, and Rove agreed with that person to out Plame.
Also, it will be hard for Rove to convince a jury that he did not know that Plame was under cover and did not know what he was doing because he made such an effort to make sure that Cooper did not state that the source was from the White House or was Rove. That may be common practice, but anyone making statements on that double secret basis about CIA employees should know to be very careful because there is always the chance the employee is under cover.
The standard of knowledge required to prove criminal intent is broad enough to include things a reasonable person should have known. So, Rove's argument that he didn't "know" certain things may not fly. The prosecutor will look at all the facts, and it will be very important to get Rove's testimony about what the person who told him said. Then that person will be asked to state what he said. This will go up the food chain. If Rove was at the bottom of the food chain, he may actually be the most vulnerable because usually the person at the bottom of the food or information chain is placed under a lot of pressure to incriminate and testify against others. Prosecutors normally threaten them with maximum charges and penalties in order to get them to "cooperate." Remember Monica Lewinsky? This is what happens to little guys in the drug sales chain. The guy that dries the truck or flies the plane is treated pretty badly until and unless he gives up the bigger fish if there are any. So, to the extent Rove is playing the little fish, he may be making a big mistake.
Also, I don't know what cause of action could be brought, but it is possible that someone such as Plame or Wilson might sue Rove in a civil action. If deposed in a civil action, Rove could be forced to testify about other dirty tricks he has been involved in over the years. Remember the Clinton deposition. Rove could face that, but, to those of us who have read about Rove's past tricks, the information would be even more incriminating and damaging. And dirt dug up about Rove will dirty Bush for all history.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
