John Dean: Criminal ChargesThat May Arise From the Plame Scandal

[Unknown Known]

John Dean says that under the federal conspiracy statute the realization that one is breaking the law ("leaking classified information") need not exist. This point alone negates McClellan's carefully constructed technical loophole from Friday's press conference.

According to Dean, under this statute, if you join a conspiracy already in progress and share in its purpose (pushing the leak), you can be held responsible for all that has gone on before you joined.

The conspiracy in this case would be a conspiracy to defraud - undertaking actions that are not within the scope of your employment. Thus anyone in this administration who made phone calls to reporters to further the story of Plame's identity would be in violation of this statute. As Dean states, "fraud" under this statute is simply defined as "any conspiracy for the purpose of impairing, obstructing, or defeating the lawful function of any department of government."

Although it would be nice to actually find the leaker, that is not likely to happen with these criminals. However, using the facts that Wilson himself has been touting regarding the "two wave" structure of this crime - the leak itself and then the PUSHING of this information, it may actually be possible that we might see some major damage to some major players.

Not only should Rove get James Baker as his lawyer, but methinks Chris Matthews is going to need some serious help soon as he is the one, according to Newsweek, that called Wilson and said, "I just got off the phone with Karl Rove, who said your wife was fair game."

Tweety's got a lot of 'splainin to do, unless of course, he decides to suicide himself!

Here's the Dean article -

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20031010.html

[Red_Viking]

1. I still say: Don't f*ck with the Spooks

These folks know what they're doing. We haven't seen the last of it. Bushco may try to sweep it under the rug, but that won't happen. I firmly believe the CIA would not have asked for the investigation if they didn't have an ace up their sleeve.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I want to see the douchebags who did this brought low.

RV

[caledesi]

8. RV, you are so right. The CIA calling for an investigation says it all.

They have something and they aren't going to back off.

[Wickerman]

2. "fraud" under this statute is simply defined

Yet, this story is already losing its legs. I think people would be willing to watch it but our esteemed media seems to have decided that lions in apartments and the Kobe rapre trial should occupy our iar time... It should be a slam dunk case, but our justice dept run by our very own Goebbels isn't interested in pushing for an independent prosecutor.

I do hope that when we get a dem back in the office all this crap gets investigated and criiminal charges are filed against all that rotten cabal.

[sybylla]

3. I always heard that ignorance of the law was no excuse

Glad to hear that no one can cry ignorance (of the law or their act) on this one and get away with it.

[Unknown Known]

4. If the CIA does not continue with this story

then this country can say good-bye to any good intelligence.

Remember how the RW were screaming after 9/11 that this was the fault of Clinton and Dems in the past because they did not put a lot of emphasis on "human" intelligence?

Well, this one act of treason by this WH has totally wiped out any and all human intelligence we may or might have.

[NoKingGeorge]

6. TWO are guilty of acts of Treason , 5 journalists culpable..

There are TWO people making calls so that is two who are outing Mrs.Wilson. John Dean here shows how at least 5 journalists are probably guilty of no less than joining a conspiricy.

The TWO are not leakers. They are Traitors to America.

[realFedUp]

5. good one.

[Spazito]

7. Kick

*