DeLay Indicted by Prosecutor Earle...Can Fitzgerald be far behind?

[autorank]

Inquiring minds want to know.

:shrug:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Sorry, but

one has nothing to do with the other.

It's incredible, how long this Fitzgerald investigation has taken. After all my DC years, I can't even begin to imagine what's going on there. Very odd.

[AlamoDemoc]

2. I agree with you...there's something going on there

that I can't put my finger on it....the suspense is killing me.

[Seansky]

8. I wouldn't be so certain about anything when it comes to the level

of corruption...Everyone could be sharing the same bed and the circle might just be closing...Who knows.

[Tatiana]

15. My take on the length...

Fitzgerald has an incredible aptitude for political timing. At least from what I've seen from his work investigating scandals in my former governor's office and City Hall (Chicago).

Each time there was very clear-cut evidence against those indicted. Everyone here in IL has praised Fitzgerald's thoroughness and professionalism.

I think Fitzgerald may have started out investigating just the Plame leak, but other evidence he has gathered in the midst of the Plame investigation has caused the focus of the investigation to expand. These are tangled weaves that have been woven and they take time to uncover, sort out, and reconstruct. Something should happen before the GJ wraps up.

[liveoaktx]

16. when exactly is the last date for the GJ?

[Tatiana]

19. Late October I think? n/t

[OldLeftieLawyer]

17. That's the word here in DC

My old law school chums - we went to school in Chicago - say the same thing about Fitzgerald. My best guess is that he's run into something so tangled up and complicated, it makes even the great state of Illinois - the place where even the dead can vote, and do, early and often - look simple and easy.

He's also going to have to make sure that it's a perfect case before he even seeks indictments, if that's what it comes to. The stakes here are far higher than anything he's ever tackled before, and we all have the utmost confidence in his skill and integrity.

[Tatiana]

18. Exactly. If he can get convictions for political corruption in IL, he's

got brains and savvy. Everyone knew George Ryan was crooked, but no one ever proved it. Then we bring in this guy from NY and whoa! Look at what he uncovers.

This is a good guy. Notice there are nearly NO leaks regarding this investigation. I have a feeling VP Cheney may be implicated, which is all the more reason to be extra-careful and thorough. Indictments are not worth much if they don't lead to convictions in a court of law.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

20. You're right

In almost thirty years here in DC, I've never known of such an investigation.

Normally, there are always leaks, of all kinds. Some turn out to be true, most aren't, but there's always chatter.

This one is a total blank. It's like the eye of a hurricane.

It's either going to be very big or very nothing.

But, it's fascinating, this silence. A lot of people are very nervous, that much I know, and this Safavian arrest in the Abramoff matter, coupled with the arrests in Florida in the Boulis matter, has made even more people even more nervous.

I'm loving it.

[enigmatic]

21. Perfect Indictment Storm

That's what I'm hoping. Having DeLay, Frist being investigated (and possibly indicted himself), and Fitzgerald laying down the hammer on any combo of Rove, Andy Card, McClellan, and Cheney would make a great Christmas Present.

It's going to be something to see.

[Tatiana]

22. "Eye of the hurricane." Perfect analogy.

It's very quiet now, but do believe the storm is coming. And a storm of this magnitude will have long-lasting repercussions.

As a prosecutor, there has to be an ENORMOUS amount of pressure on Fitzgerald's shoulders.

Like you said, it will be very big or very nothing. But I'm inclined to think "big." If there was nothing there, the GJ would have wrapped up some time ago; Fitzgerald would not have wasted this much time investigating nothing. The net has only grown wider and subpoenas continue. I'm not a lawyer like yourself, but I'm inclined to believe a prosecutor would only go take the extreme measure of jailing a journalist if he/she was on to something VERY BIG.

I'm also inclined to believe that there are no leaks forthcoming (again, HIGHLY unusual in such a high-profile investigation) because Fitzgerald doesn't want to tip his hand. He has more leverage if the people he is questioning have no idea how much he knows or who he is targeting.

This is why Washington is so nervous right now. I would even venture to suggest Republicans are downright scared. I'm guessing if this is a BIG THING, there will be plenty of indictments and many plea bargains in exchange for testimony which will be used to get the "big fish" convictions Fitzgerald is aiming for.

[Mr_Spock]

3. E...F

Alphabetically speaking... :D

[autorank]

4. ...perfect, abcd...Earle Fitsgerald

:rofl:

[Mr_Spock]

5. They dont' call you "autorank" for nothin'

:rofl:

[autorank]

12. OK so you know the software, but I didn't until I chose this name...

which is the phonetic eqivalent of a famous dude...you are too subtle for my gross mind. That is pretty funny.

:evilgrin:

[jsamuel]

6. Earl DID NOT INDICT DeLay!!! The Texas Grand Jury Idicted DeLay!

Don't use DeLay's talking points!

[autorank]

14. Sure thing. But Earle deserves the credit, that is without doubt.

He made it happen and that's how it works with grand juries. They also deserve a lot of credit.

[Just Me]

7. If he's doing "conspiracy" there will be a sh*tload of folks,....

,...indicted.

I'm wondering if the Abramoff case will evolve into fed charges against Delay.

Also, what's gonna happen to Frist?

I love fantasizing about a long overdue purge of ALL these cantankerous, corrupt, crooks and liars.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

9. Conspiracy

Sadly, it sounds a lot worse than it is. In fact, I think it's a law that really shouldn't exist.

It's the only law we have that punishes thought. You read the laws, you read the cases, you see how it's applied, and - as much as I hate to admit it in this matter with Delay - it's really a punitive measure that's applied when the prosecutor can't find anything more substantial with which to nail the defendant.

But, those arrests in the 2001 murder case in Florida are VERY interesting. The Abramoff thing is incredibly filthy.

[autorank]

10. Oh God, you gave me an opening. Here's what I think.

Endgame

[callous taoboy]

11. Cool, autorank. n/t

[autorank]

13. I'm praying...Please God, I'll say the General Confessoin every day,

tithe, and forgive all those who have ever been cross with me...just make this come true!