Wass Nails Ashcroft & Rove

[Me.]

The entire article (long) is in the Village Voice

http://search.villagevoice.com/search?site=VillageVoice&output=xml_no_dtd&client=village_voice&proxystylesheet=village_voice&filter=0&numgm=5&q=what+now+karl+


“The folks at Talk Left clue us in on crack investigative reporter Murray Waas's latest find, appearing in tomorrow's Village Voice.

The key components of the story: Justice Department officials believed that Rove was lying during one of his first interviews with investigators. What's more, the federal investigators were "deeply concerned" that Ashcroft received personal briefings about the investigation, including the details of at least one FBI interview with Rove.

The same sources said Ashcroft was also told that investigators firmly believed that Rove had withheld important information from them during that FBI interview. Those concerns by senior career law enforcement officials regarding the propriety of such briefings continuing, as Rove became more central to the investigation, also was instrumental in the naming of special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald.”


http://rimjob.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/14/232022/850

[jsamuel]

1. that would explain Ashcroft's resignation: He protected himself instead

of the "family"

[robertpaulsen]

2. Recommended!

Thanks Me. I had seen this article earlier but didn't have time to read. I remember at the time Ashcroft recused himself, everyone thought it had to do with Rove. Now we know.

[Me.]

6. Credit Goes To H.

& Arby who sent it to me in the first place.

[wtbymark]

3. I think they screwed up naming Fitzgerald

Fitz doesn't seem to be drinking the cool-aid, it seems he's pissed and out for blood. Either it's all a sham and he will find no wrong doing or he's taking some people down. We'll have to see how it pans out but it looks like Fitz is an old school conservative that has taken offense to the neo-con agenda. I'm rootin' for him.

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. I slightly disagree on bits

I don't think Fitzgerald is pissed or taken offense to the neo-con agenda. My impression is that he's just a straight-arrow old-school prosecutor who's going after wrong-doing wherever he finds it and wherever it leads him, regardless of whether it's neo-con or conservative or one party or another and without regard to anyone's agenda. I sure hope so.

[Me.]

11. I Agree With Your Assessment For The Most Part

But a friend suggested that perhaps career p-prosecutors like Comey may have gotten fed up with prayer meetings and such and this influenced his choice of Fitz, which I think is an interesting take also. I think a lot of influences have played into how this investigation has been handled.

[ooglymoogly]

12. yes but but...comey conveniently plucked from the scene of the crime

by big time bushco supporter lockheed martin. (he has resigned and become their gen council) and mcullem an old crone of the bushco wolfpack is taking over....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (lightbulb flashing overhead)

[robertpaulsen]

13. McCallum was just a rumor.

It's actually David Margolis.

[ooglymoogly]

16. thank you whew looks like better news comey appointed him

info here http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-13-cia-leak_x.htm

[Me.]

17. And Margolis Has A Reputation

of being a junkyard dog, just like Fitzgerald. Comey & Fitz are best friends and it's hard to imagine that after all these years he would shop his friend.

[laststeamtrain]

4. Great article by Mr. Waas. His blog is great too.

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/

[Me.]

5. I'm Glad You Put The Link To His Blog

I meant to but forgot.

[laststeamtrain]

8. I think his blog links from the article anyway. I heard a few minutes of

Stephanie Miller radio show this morning and she mentioned the VOICE article.
One would have to close their eyes real hard and imagine to think 'treasongate'(or whatever) is going to go away.
And I'm hopeful it will connect to the AIPAC spy investigation. In public, I mean. I think it does connect.

[H2O Man]

7. Fascinating article.

Thanks for posting it.

[ooglymoogly]

10. comey resigning and going to work for lockheed martin

that fly in bushcos' ointment conveniently removed by a bush supporter. now only bush cronies running the show. now their most pressing question...how to get rid of or at least minimize fitz.

edited to kick n nom

[bleever]

14. As our next president, Christopher Walken, might say:

Wowie wow wow.

The bungling! Ashroft doesn't know better than to stick his nose into a case where he has obvious conflicts, and makes his recusal unavoidable.

Rove deceived his FBI interrogators with plain old stupid deceptions that were bound to be discovered sooner rather than later.

Wow.

[SuperWonk]

15. Another figure emerges in all this...

But it doesn't get us any closer to the truth...

This kind of speculation will drive you crazy with all these conspiracy theories.

When will we know actual facts here??

[Joe Chi Minh]

18. Get lost!

[seemslikeadream]

19. And how do you suggest we do that?

Get closer to the truth

Read Judith Miller's blog

http://www.cursor.org.nyud.net:8090//images/iheartchalabi.jpg

[Me.]

22. Is She Blogging From Prison?

Can she?

[robertpaulsen]

27. Not with the Walrus stalking her!

John Bolton went to go visit Judith Miller in jail !!!!!!!!!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4363817

[Me.]

28. Can You Believe That?

Now if that doesn't tell the story!

[Patsy Stone]

23. Have you heard a better idea this week?

[coeur_de_lion]

20. Link to original article

What Now, Karl?
Rove and Ashcroft face new allegations in the Valerie Plame affair
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0533,waasweb1,66861,2.html
<<snip>>
Although not reported at the time, when Ashcroft recused himself from the Plame investigation, Deputy Attorney General Comey said in a statement that the A.G.'s personal staff was also being fully recused in the matter.

Indeed, the appointment of Fitzgerald as special prosecutor and the recusal of Ashcroft came just three weeks after Comey, then the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, was named to be deputy attorney general. Comey himself was no stranger to the issue—even before he took office.

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Comey had pledged that he would personally see to it that the independence and integrity of the investigation would not be compromised in any way.

At one point during those hearings, Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) cited the close relationships between Ashcroft and Rove, and also between Ashcroft and others also likely to be questioned during the leak probe. Schumer asked Comey:

"How could there not be an appearance of a conflict given the close nexus of relationships?"

"I agree with you that it's an extremely important matter," Comey replied.

Within days of his taking office, several career Justice Department prosecutors took their own longstanding concerns to Comey, telling him that perhaps it would be best for Ashcroft to recuse himself, the same legal sources said. A smaller number also advocated the appointment of an outside prosecutor to take over the matter completely.
<<snip>>

[coeur_de_lion]

21. Thank you Me., for posting that!!!!

[SuperWonk]

24. Re:

"And how do you suggest we do that? Get closer to the truth"

We wait for Fitzgerald to come forward.
Then we can form a solid strategy. I'm just tired of all the junk being passed off as hard news.

[coeur_de_lion]

25. hard news?

Nah, we are not passing anything off as hard news. The media reports what they know (or think they know) and we report the same here on DU. We speculate a lot. Sorry if that bothers you. Some of us think that this case is one of the most important issues facing the * administration these days.

It has been a very long two years since we all learned about it. Once in awhile things heat up and then we all discuss the latest news. If you are tired of reading about it, don't read it. Simple solution.

There are lots of things that get reported on DU and elsewhere that I find mildly interesting but I don't read or comment on it. If this discussion bothers you -- don't participate. I can certainly understand your frustration but don't understand why you would take it out on folks here at DU, who are just as frustrated as you are.

[SuperWonk]

26. Sorry...

Like the rest of you, I get really frustrated about stuff like this that is always on the back burner.

I also think this is a really big issue, no doubt about it.

Sometimes the endless speculation and dubious news stories rile me up. We don't really know anything, and we have no firm date as to when we will.

Thanks for bearing with me.

[coeur_de_lion]

29. no problem.

I have been waiting for so long for indictments in this case that I no longer even hope for indictments. I would be happy if those responsible were just *gone*.

Back in the 70s when Nixon's people engineered Watergate I think it took a long time before we got indictments and threats of impeachment. But I was 12-13 years old and not that interested in politics in those days. And back then we had a media with the guts to report the truth. Now it is like pulling teeth to even get the media to notice.

So now they've noticed. I think that is progress, hard to say.