What happens if Fitzgerald doesn't return an indictment of Rove or anyone

[ncteechur]

[LiberalEsto]

1. They become Unindicted Co-conspirators! n/t

[bowens43]

2. Nothing.

And that''s what I predict will happen.

[emulatorloo]

6. He would not have jailed Miller if he had nothing and judges would not

have permitted it either.

[KansDem]

12. You know, that's the thing that's giving me hope that this is not bogus...

The fact that Fitzgerald has been so thorough with interviews, grand jury appearances, and the jailing of Miller that I think he is on to something and no amount of bribery or coercion on the part of the Bushistas will sway him.

If this was just a ruse, then I don't think he would have taken all these steps or gone to all this trouble. I think we would have seen something akin to the anthrax investigation of John Ashcroft, who somehow couldn't find the culprit even though the trail led to a small number of suspects at one location.

[comsymp]

14. I'm not so sure about that -

Lord knows, Fitz is a far cry from Hardon Starr, but remember Susan McDougall did time for "contempt", too, although the investigation ultimately came up with bubkes.

[Walt Starr]

Comparing anything Fitzgerald does to what Starr did is like

comparing anything that Franklin Delano Roosevelt did to what Charlie Chaplin did.

Also remember, there were indictments in teh Whitewater affair. McDougal's ex husband and Huckabee both were indicted.

[comsymp]

16. Ahh, but these were essentially tangential indictments, FWIW.

(meaning not directly related to the Clintons' involvement, which was supposed to be the subject of the original investigation)

And the comparison isn't necessarily between Fitz and Starr, but addresses the basic similarity of the process - specifically, if a judge has ordered a witness to talk, s/he doesn't like to hear "no." Judges take contempt very seriously, regardless of the particulars of the case in which it occurs.


Edited to correct grammar.

[bowens43]

17. It's all smoke and mirrors.

They want to appear to be to be doing something but in the end, there will be no indictments. No one will lose their job. It will be spun into partisan attacks by the Democrats.

I hope very much that I'm wrong.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. I just have a hard time believing Fitz won't have 'something'

for 'someone' That may be the big surprise, though. It may very well be someone else...someone much higher than Rove. Maybe, maybe not.

The length of time this has been going on, to me, only serves to bolster the argument that he does indeed have something. And from what I've heard reported about the judges who read his reasons/evidence for compelling reporters to testify, it is "serious".

Fitzgerald does not allow leaks. I have no doubt that he gave a quick call to the WH and told them to zip it long ago. And if they keep running this behind the scenes campaign as they have been doing, it might even peak his curiosity that there is more to this whole thing than what he has now...that it's all connected.

So, it may or may not be Rove. In the end, it doesn't matter to me...just so those who committed the crime(s) are held accountable and punished.

[Walt Starr]

4. I very much doubt there will be no indictments

I suspect we'll see indictments of Rove, Libby, and Bolton at the very least, potentially more. There will be several counts including perjury and obstruction besides the espionage counts

We could very well see Judith Miller also indicted for criminal contempt, obstruction, and conspiracy. Novak might also do a perp walk for perjury.

[wicket]

8. Bolton???

Bolton is involved in all of this??? Sheesh- I must've been under a rock.

[Walt Starr]

9. Yes, Bolton

The nomination for UN ambassador is a cover.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. That's a thought I've had, too, Walt.

It pretty much got poo-pood when I posted it as a question, but I still think it's a plausible scenario. Bolton certainly has a track record for such things, had the access/clearance, was involved in the same arena (WMD) as Valerie Plame Wilson, has been around long enough to know the careers of intelligence assets, AND Alberto has probably taken a look-see at diplomatic immunity for UN Ambassadors just to put a pretty red bow on the whole package!

[wicket]

19. How so?

Sorry- I'm totally clueless on this.

[bowens43]

18. I hope you're right.

[Cocoa]

5. the dems are not hanging their hopes on an indictment

they are very clearly separating the question of criminality from their charges that the leak and the coverup are a grave threat to our national security.

[kansasblue]

7. or anyone?

he looks a fool for jailing and reporter.

[Walt Starr]

10. That's why I suspect there are already indictments in the works

The fact that he stuck Miller in the pokey tells me there is enough to indict. All he is doing now is building the number and variety of counts. Possibly also the number of people indicted.

[jmcon007]

13. That actually may be worst scenario for Bush.

There are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered and the Whitehouse press corps has smelled a little blood apparently.

[fishnfla]

15. Sources close to the investigation said there would be at least one

I cant remember where I read that, it was in one of the million published reports I've read since yesterday. It was linked here from DU, maybe in the editorials

I was surprised, because I was like Walt Starr singing the praises of an investigation that does not leak things out