Today’s indictment of Scooter Libby is devastating for the White House. Since the investigation is still ongoing, I do hate to comment so early. It does appear that more charges will follow in the next week or so. It should be noted, however, that today’s charges are extremely serious, and the debate concerning the entire episode should be treated as such.
As I write this, President Bush has yet to comment on the charges. No matter his comments, his administration should still remain as quiet and helpful towards the investigation as they have been in the previous months.
Of course, the neocon attack machine has been trying to discredit every inch of the investigation. The one completely false talking point that I keep seeing by the Republicans is their claim that Valerie Plame’s identity was not secret. Whatever that may be, today Scooter Libby was not charged with outing a covert CIA agent. He is charged with perjury, false statements and obstruction of justice. None of those are anything concerning the covert status of a CIA agent.
In summary: during an investigation into the leak of a CIA agent’s identity, Libby is charged with giving false statements to a grand jury. And in the process of testifying to that grand jury he is also charged with lying and attempting to cover up past statements or actions that hindered the investigation. None of this concludes anything about the identity or status of Valerie Plame.
I’m sure I’ll have more on this later.
10.28.2005
Indictment Clarification
Posted by Chris at 2:44 PM
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15 comments:
It's the coverup that's easier to crack. The same was true of Watergate. Let it not be forgotten: Nixon was a crook, and Bush has borrowed several pages from his book. He has refined the tactics, and he himself might not ever be implicated, but this is much is clear, while the name on the papers says Libby, this whole business reeks of Bush.
I'm just waiting to see how this all plays out. Fox seems to be on the downplay about the whole thing.
Any Republican who may wish to downplay the charges should be reminded of the charges made against former President Bill Clinton.
Like Kenn Starr, Mr. Fitzgerald believes he did not find enough evidence implicating those he was investigating to charge anyone for the original suspected crime but he did find evidence of criminal wrongdoing with respect to the coverup - perjury, making false statements, and obstruction of justice.
These crimes are, like those levied against the former president, serious. Perjury, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal investigative offenses hinder the cause of justice. In Clinton's case, it involved testimony which Paula Jones was entitled to during her civil lawsuit, whether it involved merit or not. In this case it involved evidence Mr. Fitzgerald may have needed to investigate a potentially criminal leak of a then-undisclosed CIA operative.
If guilty, Mr. "Scooter" Libby deserves to serve time. I am still not ready to comment on Karl Rove yet since the investigation is still open and another grand jury may decide to indict Karl Rove or not.
But that is besides the point for now. The charges are serious, and any effort to downplay them as Clinton did would be disingenuous. Perjury and obstruction of justice are either serious crimes or they are not.
I admit that Rove was the one I wanted indicted. Not that I knew anything about the exact way in whcih who said what to whom and when.I think the implications are huge though despite the fact that the Republicans will down play it to the best of their ability.
Girl, so full of drama. And I'm sure the weeks ahead will be full of so much more. Thanks for reading.
Wombat, and let us not forget that most of Bush's top staffers are from Nixon's staff. The neocon era begins with the resignation of Nixon. That is their fire that drives them. Bush has learned from Nixon's mistakes, but his style of leadership is not all that different. Now it appears Bush's mistakes are taking a toll. Thanks for reading.
businessman, yeah but Fox was all over those same charges when Clinton was in the spotlight. Fox is owned by the neocons and Saudi Arabia.
Heretic, very true. Just to add some to the understanding of Clinton's investigation: his investigation started with a land deal that went bad and evolved into an investigation into extra marital affairs. And in that process, Clinton lied to a grand jury. The biggest distinction between Fitzgerald and Starr is that the Starr investigation was an independent governmental counsel, Fitzgerald is not, his is a prosecution of the DoJ. You are right, this investigation is far from over. It is my understanding that a new one will begin on Monday morning and it will totally devastate Bush's team.
I will be back to answer more in a minute. My cell phone won't quit ringing. Sorry.
The wingerbots would do well to remember that Alger Hiss was never charged with espionage-he was charged, and convicted, of lying about espionage.
The perjury charge wouldn't exist if the original crime hadn't been committed. For reasont that vary, sometimes Prosecutors don't press the original charge-this is a condition that occurrs every day in Courts nationwide. To claim that a perjury charge means that there was no outing of an agent is not only laughable on its face, those who try to argue this point only reveal a disconnect that amounts to stupidity.
Graham, true, it's not over. I think the political implications will be felt before this is all said and done. A new grand jury convenes this week and its focus will be on Rove and Cheney, and all the forgeries. Fitzgerald is not finished.
Alice, it will happen. Unless Rove cuts a deal with the prosecutor, which could very well happen and which might right now be in the works. Even with a deal, I would think that Fitzgerald would have to ask that Rove admit to some wrong doing that would require him to step down.
jolly, true enough. This indictment answers nothing, legally, about the outing of a CIA agent, other than the fact that Bush's administration lied when questioned about it. If she wasn't covert, then why lie? A huge cover up took place. Fitzgerald will find it.
dr., I'm not sure I follow you completely. I think Scooter, who was a powerful figure, is taking a lot of the heat right now. He isn't the only culprit in the neocon movement, not even close. I will check out your site. Thanks for reading.
'Devastating' MJ? Really? That's ridiculous.
Graham. Finally some good commentary from you. Keep it up.
Alice? Hating Rove, but you don't even know why? Brilliant!
I blog about the indictments at Right From Left. There was no cover-up. No conspiracy. No crime even committed. In fact, Libby was charged with lying about about something that didn't even happen. How crazy is that?
Now two words for all of you so 'concerned' about the CIA leak: Joe Wilson.
No crime was committed with the Clinton investigation either. Was that one not warranted either?
And, yep, it's devastating for the White House.
You're killing me, Buddy.
Clinton lied under oath over 200 hundred times. As such, he committed a crime. End of story.
The Fitzgerald investigation, unable to prove the leak charge against anyone at the White House, swerved into a fringe area about phone conversations of which Libby has about a thousand a day. WTF? Nobody could keep all that stuff straight.
If the White House is as 'devastated' as you suggest why are the Democrats having a meltdown?
Your peeps, MJ, were so certain that Rove was going down last week (and possibly even Cheney) that they were preparing to draft articles of impeachment.
Homer Simpson says it best: 'D'oh!'
Read my post today @ R.F.L. You'll love it.
For one Kent, Clinton and Libby were charged with the exact same crimes. Clinton was never convicted of any crime. And neither has Libby. So what you argue really makes no sense. If when Clinton lied under oath was a crime, then it's also a crime when Libby does it. Or anyone.
The Starr investigation, unable to prove that Clinton did any wrong doing in the Whitewater investigation, swerved into a fringe area about extra-marital affairs of which is not even a criminal matter. WTF? Nobody would have survived an independent council led by the opposition party.
The Democrats are not in meltdown. In fact the leak investigation is not over. A new grand jury has convened and will investigate Rove and Cheney. More indictments will follow. This is only the beginning.
Kent, your peeps were so certain that Clinton was so bad that they did impeach him on the exact same charges that President Bush's chief's of staff has now been charged with. You argue against the same point for which you also defend Republicans.
MJ, really. The mental gymnastics you engage in--simply incredible.
You won't admit that POTUS lying under oath is a high crime. It doesn't matter that Clinton wasn't convicted. He was impeached.
You also won't admit that Libby was charged with something other than what Fitzgerald was supposed to be investigating.
You can't compare a President with a senior advisor. Same charges, different cases, different food chain.
This entire thing--at it's core--is nothing more than revenge on behalf of your guy Clinton, the most corrupt President in American history.
But take heart. I still love you, Buddy.
Kent, call me many things, but at least admit I'm good.
Lying under oath is a crime. One of which Clinton was never convicted of.
Thanks, buddy. You always keep me going.
DUDE.
I can't believe you like country music.
You really are a sicko.
I love country music. I'm listening to some right now. Just like your beloved president. Is he a sicko too?
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