Poll: Will anyone be indicted over Plamegate?

**Xiahou** · 10-26-2005, 18:47

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

I say we chuck em all in jail, and beat every member of congress and the senate over the head with a shoe until they resign. Then start fresh.

2 words- term limits.

**Aurelian** · 10-26-2005, 22:18

Well, I thought today might be Fitzmas, but it looks as if the grand jury went home for the day. There was a suggestion that there might be some indictments announced this afternoon with a press conference tomorrow, but it now looks like they might hold off until tomorrow or Friday.

Anyway, here are some of today's Fitzmas-related news goodies:

According to "Raw Story", Fitzgerald tried to cut a deal with Rove (probably yesterday) where he would plead guilty to perjury in exchange for a reduced sentence, and not be charged with obstruction of justice. Rove reportedly turned that deal down. If true, that means that Fitzgerald will undoubtedly be going for a Rove indictment... probably on perjury and obstruction charges... possibly more.

They also reported that the prosecutor will be asking the grand jury to indict Scooter Libby on perjury, obstruction of justice, and knowingly outing a covert operative. Apparently two other (non-White House) officials are also facing charges.

Richard Sale (whose reporting has apparently been very reliable) also had some interesting material:

1) Fitzgerald has apparently gone to the presiding judge and asked him to extend the grand jury process. It appears that he has a number of other targets in his sights, and he intends to continue the investigation.

2) "Federal law enforcement officers" suggested to Sale 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."

3) It looks as if Cheney has been the center of a lot of attention. The White House has apparently received very detailed "questionaires" trying to pin Cheney down on what he knew and when he knew it.

Another little detail today... apparently the prosecution has been going door-to-door in the Wilson's neighborhood and asking all of their friends and neighbors whether they had any knowledge of Plame's job or covert status. It would appear that they are trying to clear up the (occasionally argued) notion that her status was "common knowledge". The quotes from her neighbors suggested that her career was not common knowledge amongst her neighborhood friends. LINK

**Hurin_Rules** · 10-27-2005, 21:00

Looks like we'll have to wait till Friday, but it is almost certain now that Fitzgerald has asked the grand jury to produce indictments.

Washington is on tip-toes waiting for this. Should be very, very interesting.

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 10-28-2005, 01:38

Looks like we'll have to wait till Friday, but it is almost certain now that Fitzgerald has asked the grand jury to produce indictments.

Washington is on tip-toes waiting for this. Should be very, very interesting.

And if friday comes and theres still no indicments then what? You liberals have been on tip toes ever since this came out. Your like a bunch of kids waiting for santa to arrive with your christmas present. What will you do if he leaves nothing but a clump of coal?

**Hurin_Rules** · 10-28-2005, 03:42

Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny

And if friday comes and theres still no indicments then what? You liberals have been on tip toes ever since this came out. Your like a bunch of kids waiting for santa to arrive with your christmas present. What will you do if he leaves nothing but a clump of coal?

The grand jury is set to expire tomorrow, that's why everyone is concentrating on it.

If nothing comes of it, fine. We'll just have to wait another year till the Democrats take back congress and we can finally have independent investigations of all of these matters.

The tone of this post has been reasonably civil up to now, and I hope you won't poison it Gawain.

**Redleg** · 10-28-2005, 03:52

My thoughts on this particuler subject is wait and see. There is enough waffling and mashing of teeth on the issue coming from the White House staff that something might actually be in the works. Will someone be indicted over the outing - is something that one must wait for on baited breath.

Originally Posted by Hurin_Rules

If nothing comes of it, fine. We'll just have to wait another year till the Democrats take back congress and we can finally have independent investigations of all of these matters.

But if anyone thinks Fitzgerald did not at least give an honest effort, is only fooling themselves.

As one article states - investigators don't go canvasing the neighborhood of the victim if they are just giving the investigation lip-service.

**Hurin_Rules** · 10-28-2005, 04:56

Originally Posted by Redleg

But if anyone thinks Fitzgerald did not at least give an honest effort, is only fooling themselves.

As one article states - investigators don't go canvasing the neighborhood of the victim if they are just giving the investigation lip-service.

That's what I think too, Redleg. I will be very surprised if nothing at all comes of this.

I guess we'll just have to wait till tomorrow to see :)

**Aurelian** · 10-28-2005, 05:20

And if friday comes and theres still no indicments then what? You liberals have been on tip toes ever since this came out. Your like a bunch of kids waiting for santa to arrive with your christmas present. What will you do if he leaves nothing but a clump of coal?

Then we'll weep softly and turn our attention back to Delay, Frist, Abramoff, and that Noe guy who just got indicted in Ohio.

But luckily, since we've been good little boys and girls this year, I think Saint Fitzolas is going to leave us a bunch of nicely wrapped indictments (with little bows on them) under the Fitzmas Tree.

**Red Harvest** · 10-28-2005, 05:27

Originally Posted by Redleg

My thoughts on this particuler subject is wait and see. There is enough waffling and mashing of teeth on the issue coming from the White House staff that something might actually be in the works. Will someone be indicted over the outing - is something that one must wait for on baited breath.

I didnt' really think the investigation was going to go that far, unless there was a cover up. From the outside there sure appears to be one.

There was a change in poise of the whole administration about a week to 10 days after Katrina. While I thought the Katrina backlash might have been the reason, I also wondered if something else big was afoot. What I've heard so far suggests there was a whole lot more going on here. But there is not much hard to go on. Hence, wait and see.

The difference is the change in tone of the administration, and attempts by GOP functionaries to distance themselves, even before Miers. And where the heck is Cheney? He hasn't been this invisible in a long time. Last time I saw him in the news was when someone in Mississippi hurled a "Go .... yourself Mr. Cheney."

Lots of smoke, but is there fire?