Legal issues in Plame case. Reposting as I think this is an important view

[rumpel]

and not mant people were able to see.

The legal columns are long but very informative for us lay people. Several related articles inside his column.

JOHN DEAN
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Before becoming Counsel to the President of the United States in July 1970 at age thirty-one, John Dean was Chief Minority Counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, the Associate Director of a law reform commission, and Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States. He served as Richard Nixon's White House lawyer for a thousand days.

He did his undergraduate studies at Colgate University and the College of Wooster, with majors in English Literature and Political Science. He received a graduate fellowship from American University to study government and the presidency, before entering Georgetown University Law Center, where he received his JD in 1965.

John has written many articles on law, government,and politics. He has recounted his days in the Nixon White House and Watergate in two books, Blind Ambition (1976) and Lost Honor (1982). John Lives in Beverly Hills, California with his wife Maureen. He works as a writer, lecturer, and private investment banker.

In 2001 he published "The Rehnquist Choice: The Untold Story of the Nixon Appointment that Redefined the Supreme Court;" in 2002 he published an e-book "Unmasking Deep Throat;" and in early 2004, Warren G. Harding. His newest book is "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush."

and here are excerpts related to many discussions over the last few days:

A Further Look At The Criminal ChargesThat May Arise From the Plame Scandal, In Which a CIA Agent's Cover Was Blown
By JOHN W. DEAN
Friday, Oct. 10, 2003

snip
The White House Need Not Have Leaked to Have Committed a Crime

snip
But even if the White House was not initially involved with the leak, it has exploited it. As a result, it may have opened itself to additional criminal charges under the federal conspiracy statute.

Why the Federal Conspiracy and Fraud Statutes May Apply Here

snip

What counts as "fraud" under the statute? Simply put, "any conspiracy for the purpose of impairing, obstructing, or defeating the lawful function of any department of government." (Emphasis added.) If telephoning reporters to further destroy a CIA asset whose identity has been revealed, and whose safety is now in jeopardy, does not fit this description, I would be quite surprised.

If Newsweek is correct that Karl Rove declared Valerie Plame Wilson "fair game," then he should make sure he's got a good criminal lawyer, for he made need one. I've only suggested the most obvious criminal statute that might come into play for those who exploit the leak of a CIA asset's identity. There are others.

on edit: forgot add link to article:
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20031010.html

The most recent of his columns

A New Chapter In The Valerie Plame Case:
Insights Gained From The New Edition of The Book by Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson
By JOHN W. DEAN
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Friday, May. 20, 2005

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20050520.html

[Starone]

1. Thanks!

Interesting reading.

[rumpel]

2. Welcome. I also saw another article, by Dean, WH tactics to destroy Clarke

credibility.

If this is the modus operandi of the administration, I would hope that Fitz would be able to establish "motive" to prove willful intent.

on edit corrected wrong link
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/dean/20040405.html