Rove testifying before CIA leak grand jury

[ProSense]

Rove testifying before CIA leak grand jury

White House aide is expected to address new evidence since last fall

Updated: 2:04 p.m. ET April 26, 2006
WASHINGTON - Top White House aide Karl Rove arrived at the federal courthouse Wednesday for his fifth grand jury appearance in the Valerie Plame affair.

Escorted by his lawyer Robert Luskin, Rove went into the building for a closed-door session with the panel and Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is heading up the inquiry into who leaked Plame’s status as a CIA officer to the news media in 2003.

Among other things the prosecutor is investigating why Rove originally failed to disclose to prosecutors that he had talked to Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper about the CIA status of Plame.

Snip...

According to NBC News’ David Shuster, legal sources say Rove volunteered to testify and was no subpoenaed. Rove’s decision followed a recent conversation with Fitzgerald.

New evidence

Earlier Wednesday, Rove consulted with his private lawyers in preparation of his afternoon grand jury appearance. People familiar with the case, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because of grand jury secrecy, said Rove was to answer questions about evidence that has emerged since his last grand jury appearance last fall.

more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12388079

[soothsayer]

1. bwa ha ha ha! hang 'em high!

[emulatorloo]

2. Lawrence O'Donnell: Who Asked Rove to Return?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1030391

snip from O'Donnell:

<snip>

Karl Rove's return to the grand jury today could mean the end of the Rove investigation or the beginning of the Rove prosecution. It depends on who asked Rove to return. If Fitzgerald asked Rove to return to the grand jury, that means Fitzgerald thinks he doesn't have enough for an indictment.

If Rove asked to return to the grand jury, that means Rove's lawyer, Bob Luskin, believes an indictment is imminent and is sending his client back to make a final desperate attempt to avoid indictment. .... P.S. For what it's worth, the buzz among the Washington press corps right now is that Rove asked to return to the grand jury.

<snip>

[ProSense]

3. Yeah I Got Your Spin Right Here

Yeah I Got Your Spin Right Here

By Jane Hamsher @ 12:45 pm



Since Karl Rove makes yet another appearance before the Grand Jury today (his fifth), I thought it would be nice to reconstruct Rove’s history of testimony. As Christy said this morning, it’s quite unusual for someone to appear before the GJ so many times, so let’s revisit what we know (or at least what we’ve heard) about the ever-evolving story of Karl Rove.

Snip...

It seems like every appearance Rove has made before the grand jury has been to walk back the incorrect information he gave the FBI in the first place (which no doubt matched up with Libby’s quite well). Rove thinks he is awfully clever and can talk himself out of just about anything, and I am certain Fitzgerald is more than willing to give him enough rope.

But unless Fitzgerald has grown a bit more credulous and is now buying the "I forgot" routine that worked so well for Scooter Libby, I’d say today’s attempts at spinning this as a "good" thing for Team Rove are GOP pipe dreams.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/26/yeah-i-got-your-spin-right-here

[TheBaldyMan]

4. Crash & burn Karl :D n/t

[ProSense]

5. PLAME UPDATE

April 26, 2006

PLAME UPDATE....Karl Rove testified today for the fifth time before the grand jury investigating the Valerie Plame case, and it appears that his testimony revolved around former Time magazine reporter Viveca Novak (no relation to Robert Novak). Here's a recap:

Snip...

So: did Rove really forget? Or did he lie and then correct his testimony only when he knew he was about to get caught?

Perhaps the best clue is whether Fitzgerald asked Rove to testify (which Fitzgerald might do just to clear up some loose ends) or whether Rove volunteered to testify (which Rove wouldn't do except as a last ditch effort to keep from being indicted). So far, reports are distinctly mixed on this point.

It's all still rumors so far, though. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Luskin released this statement after Rove's testimony:

In connection with this appearance, the Special Counsel has advised Mr. Rove that he is not a target of the investigation. Mr. Fitzgerald has affirmed that he has made no decision concerning charges.

That's pretty weaselly language, so it's hard to know what to make of it. Luskin doesn't say that Rove isn't a target, only that he's not a target "in connection with this appearance." As for bringing charges, there's no telling what "no decision" means. Maybe he's waiting to see if Rove cooperates in testimony against someone else. Maybe that's just boilerplate stuff that prosecutors say until the day they hand down an indictment. Who knows?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_04/008696.php

[ProSense]

6. Rove and the Grand Jury

Blogged by JC on 04.26.06 @ 11:53 PM ET

Rove and the Grand Jury

Rove appeared before Fitzgerald's grand jury for a reported fifth time today and Thursday's Los Angeles Times reports that the Special Prosecutor may be preparing charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against the White House political director. Rove's attorney denied reports that his client received a "target letter" indicating an indictment was imminent. While his attorney noted that Rove appeared voluntarily, one must wonder what testimony would be so compelling on the fifth opportunity to testify.

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000434.htm

[geiger]

7. Interesting wording by his attorney.

In The New York Times this morning: Mr. Rove last appeared before the grand jury in October, and his lawyer has said he is not a major figure in the leak inquiry and will ultimately be exonerated.

If he's not been charged with anything yet, why does he need to be exonerated, esp if he is not " a major figure"....

I'd say the man is in some deep shit.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Hmmm. Rove volunteered to appear before a Grand Jury?.....

...Right.

The only thing for which Rove volunteers is a chance to gain more power, and/or to "swiftboat" more political opponents.