Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Can't vouch for the credibility of the reporter, but if it's true then everything's about to get very interesting.
Although most press accounts emphasized that Fitzgerald was likely to concentrate on attempts by Libby Rove and others to cover-up wrongdoing by means of perjury before the grand jury, lying to federal officials, conspiring to obstruct justice, etc. But federal law enforcement officials told this reporter that Fitzgerald was likely to charge the people indicted with violating Joe Wilson's civil rights, smearing his name in an attempt to destroy his ability to earn a living in Washington as a consultant.
The civil rights charge is said to include "the conspiracy was committed using U.S. government offices, buildings, personnel and funds," one federal law enforcement official said. Other charges could include possible violations of U.S. espionage laws, including the mishandling of U.S. classified information, these sources said.
That Vice President Cheney is at the center of the controversy comes is no surprise. Last Friday, Fitzgerald investigators were talking to Cheney's attorneys, and detailed questionnaires, designed to pin down in meticulous sequence what Cheney knew, when he knew it, and what he told his aides, were delivered to the White House on Monday, these sources said.
The probe is far from being at an end. According to this reporter's sources, Fitzgerald approached the judge in charge of the case and asked that a new grand jury be empaneled. The old grand jury, which has been sitting for two years, will expire on October 28.
(via Gilliard)
TrackBackI have read speculation on the internets (citing the leakiness of this grand jury and the fact that Fitz has thrown up a web site recently) that said special prosecutor is quite aware of the court of public opinion.
Theory; (Fitz is aware that) a) this is a critical moment in this democracy when we as a culture and nation decide b) if the bounds of law truly forbid certain actions, regardless of their end result (is outing a CIA agent justified to silence oposition to an absolutely necessary war).
I don't believe the argument of "absolutely necessary" will ever be won- I think that some people really, truly believe that (and the ex-Trotskyist in me respects that). But, I am not sure that most people believe that we are above the law.
Posted by: Sterling at October 26, 2005 07:35 PM"Fitzgerald was likely to charge the people indicted with violating Joe Wilson's civil rights, smearing his name in an attempt to destroy his ability to earn a living in Washington as a consultant."
This particular charge doesn't strike me as exceedingly likely to yield a conviction.
Posted by: Gaijin Biker at October 27, 2005 09:53 PM