Timing of prosecutor's report/indictments in outing CIA operative Plame.

[skip fox]

The WH is obviously trying to find out when Fitzgerald will wind up his investigation, which can occur anytime between now and the end of October. It doesn't take a genius to realize that they are speaking to everyone they can, even those marginally involved in the investigation (i.e., clerks, janitors, caterers, secretaries--everyone in a large organization knows that one needs to project and request use of space and services) since trying to maneuver in the political environment following the report and/or indictments, every bit of intelligence would help the administrative operatives in terms of timing and news cycles would be of profound interest.

Thus, we might watch the WH for signs of bracing or attempting to create a diversion (a Renquist retirement?, military stare-down with Iran?). And it might be useful for us to keep the story "primed" until then in order to deflect the administration's attempts to downplay or obscure the conclusions of the prosecutor.

Today Joe Conason speculated (on The Al Franken Show) that Novak's abrupt departure yesterday from the CNN talk show was due to his apprehension (and thus possible knowledge) that something was about to happened. Conason speculated that somne of his testimony might conflict with that of others (thus opening HIM to perjury?), but it may be signs that the investigation is nearing its end and that multiple indictments are possible.


I think, in fact, that Rove may receive at least 2 indictments and others will receive at least one apiece. The numbers of leakers (original sources) and officials needed for confirmation of the story MILITATES planning. We know that there were 6 reported contacts or original sources (John Dean says 6; we know of three: Rove, Libby, and Miller's source who will not specifically release her from her confidentiality agreement) and multiple (3-4) confirming sources, it becomes apparent what occurred. One administrative official discovered the Plame-Wilson-Niger relationship, took it to the White House Iraq Group, turned it over to Rove, who on the spot assigned tasks to different primary leakers/sources assuring no source called another source's contact (so as not to appear too eager), that no source's "pitch" was exactly the same but that their information was all given in an "off hand" manner (e.g., "Don't go too far out on this Wilson thing, I don't want you burnt").

To have 6 calls from 3 leakers is an indication of a coordinated endeavor. If there were the 6 leakers as Dean claims would make the case even more damning. But also consider the planning necessary to have enough confirming sources. Unsure of who the reporters may call to confirm, someone would have to make sure at least 2 other officials were ready and willing to confirm if called.

Therefore a master-mind would have been necessary to coordinate all these calls and confirmations (as many as 11 as was storied last week).

They would have gone to Rove immediately and he, probably in an emergency of the White House Iraq Group, assigned the roles, the stories and the stances, etc.

So he not only leaked by was the mastermind of a conspiracy to leak.

We can only hope he lead a cover-up and committed perjury as well.

[funflower]

1. I wish I had as much faith in the system as you do.

Rove? Indicted? That would restore my faith in government.

[napi21]

2. It's not the system that's bad, it's some people who abuse it.

I have a LOT of faith and trust in Fitz! He doesn't abuse the system, but uses every part of it to his advantage. If everything I read about his past cases, he is like a Rottwiler who grabs onto his goal and won't let go until he gets what he wants! He doesn't care about politics or status.

The only way I can see this possibly falling apart is if Gonzales fired him as Special Presecutor on the case. It's possible, but very unlikely! The case is almost over and the motive for firing him would be SO CONSPICUOUS, even the AG wouldn't ruin his reputation by doing that now.

[seemslikeadream]

4. Rove WILL be indicted

Bill Press said he will resign before he is indicted

Lawrence O’Donnell also said Rove would be indicted, I believe

[libertypirate]

3. What if Fitzgerald has lost control of the Grand Jury?

Take a look at what this guy is blogging...

http://citizenspook.blogspot.com/2005/08/treasongate-white-house-indicted-us.html

Citizen Spook has interviewed a representative of Randy Sanborn's office at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago where the Fitzgerald investigation is headquartered. Randy Sanborn is the official spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Illinois. Sanborn is also the official spokesperson for Patrick Fitzgerald.

....

The whole post is very interesting but I want to highlight one area.


PROCEDURE - RUNAWAY JURIES

Furthermore, the grand jury can return indictments or true bills of their own initiation. They are not constrained by the indictments or information presented to them by Patrick Fitzgerald. The grand jurors are allowed to ask their own questions and create their own indictments. Grand juries that take the reins like this are sometimes referred to as "runaway grand juries":


It goes on to explain about these type of Grand Juries and that they don't have to stick to the restrictions that the prosecutor does. It is mighty interesting.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. There are no indications of a runaway anything

Fitzgerald has run an extremely tight ship. That meme is just repug spin to try to discredit the grand jury investigation.

[Independent_Liberal]

5. I thought that was why Novak cursed and walked off...

He's going to go down when the shit hits the fan.

[welshTerrier2]

6. "The Overall"

in the movie "All the President's Men", every time Woodward brought up another detail, Deep Throat kept telling him that he was missing "the overall" ...

Plame, DSM, the forged Niger memo and perhaps even 9/11 itself (i'll leave that last one for others to speculate about) were part of a masterplan to deceive the Congress, the American people and the rest of the world to build a case for war ... that's the overall ...

i agree with your assessment of Fitzgerald ... but i don't think it's likely he will extend his investigation into the more abstract crimes that were committed here ... the indictments will focus on the very specific charges of leaking confidential government information ...

Fitzgerald is unlikely to pursue the motivations of those involved beyond their fairly narrow retaliatory objectives ... but, for the country, and those who stand in opposition to this administration's corruption, to rejoice over this narrowness and celebrate whatever political fallout may accrue to our benefit would leave a huge injustice unpunished ...

the greater crime, of which Plame is only one small element, was the colossal fabrication, at any cost, of a casus belli (i.e. a justification for war) ... we must not be distracted by the perp walks from our central mission of teaching the American people that we must be far more cautious and questioning when war is in the offing ... how, indeed, was it possible for our institutions to fall into line so willingly without demanding better documentation and asking far more probing questions ??? the trauma the nation suffered on 9/11 might be an explanation but it is far from an excuse ... war is war and the devastation that has been and is still being caused by our inattentiveness and our failure to challenge those in power is a sad comment on the strength of our democracy ...

so rejoice in knowing that some of the bad guys will pay at least some price for their little crimes ... but challenge those who represent us to ensure that Fitzgerald's work is only Act One of a very important play ... prosecuting "the overall" will not come from Fitzgerald; it will come from we the people and those willing to fight for our cause ... follow the details very carefully but keep your main focus on "the overall" ...

[skip fox]

8. I agree. But am concerned with one thing at a time, hoping

that it may help create the pivot in public opinion which will open the other doos.

[welshTerrier2]

9. multi-tasking ...

i think Democrats need to start building a case NOW for aspects that are almost certainly beyond where Fitzgerald is likely to go ...

there just has not been enough "national dialog" focussed on the themes the DSM expressed ... Democrats need to do more to educate Americans that bush was not just given bad intelligence; he fabricated the evidence ...

as long as the "common wisdom" is that the motivation for outing Plame was merely to get back at Wilson, we've already missed the big picture ... this was way more than retaliation; this was an attempt to suppress the truth about the threat Iraq did or didn't pose ...