John Dean on Bush Lawyering Up: must know who leaker is & will take FIFTH!

[Dems Will Win]

The Serious Implications Of President Bush's Hiring A Personal Outside Counsel For The Valerie Plame Investigation
By JOHN W. DEAN
----
Friday, Jun. 04, 2004

-snip-

If Bush is called before the grand jury, it is likely because Fitzgerald believes that he knows much more about this leak than he has stated publicly.

-snip-

It is possible that Bush is consulting Sharp only out of an excess of caution - despite the fact that he knows nothing of the leak, or of any possible coverup of the leak. But that's not likely.

On this subject, I spoke with an experienced former federal prosecutor who works in Washington, specializing in white collar criminal defense (but who does not know Sharp). That attorney told me that he is baffled by Bush's move - unless Bush has knowledge of the leak. "It would not seem that the President needs to consult personal counsel, thereby preserving the attorney-client privilege, if he has no knowledge about the leak," he told me.

What advice might Bush get from a private defense counsel? The lawyer I consulted opined that, "If he does have knowledge about the leak and does not plan to disclose it, the only good legal advice would be to take the Fifth, rather than lie. The political fallout is a separate issue."

-snip-

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20040604.html

Maybe this is why Bush is cracking up lately? See the other thread on Bush Acting Erratically.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_4636.shtml

Fitzgerald wants to know what did he know and when did he know it and Bush will have to take the Fifth or incriminate himself.

IT'S ENOUGH TO DRIVE A MAN TO DRINK!

[mike_c]

1. poor beleaguered shrub....

I love the smell of toast in the morning.

[shraby]

3. By taking the fifth

he might as well be saying he knew who did it. No one believes anything good about someone who takes the fifth.

[Claire Beth]

4. ain't it GOOD!!!!! n/t

[Bozita]

2. Bringing honesty and integrity back to the White House

I guess it depends upon your definition of "honesty" and "integrity."

[Submariner]

5. And don't forget

"without any appearance of impropriety" too! Mustn't forget that.

[Dems Will Win]

6. kick

[doni_georgia]

7. No reason for an attorney if he didn't know something

Why would Bush need outside counsel if he knew nothing? Doesn't make sense. The fact is that orders to out Plame came from high up. Pleading the 5th says that if he speaks he would incriminate himself. So no matter what, he's essentially saying he knew. Knew either about the outing itself, or knew after the fact who did it and did nothing about it. Either way it's treason in my book.

[truebrit71]

8. I can think of no logical reason why * would need an outside lawyer....

UNLESS...he knows who the leaker is, OR he was the one that okayed the leak in the first place...

I defer to John Dean's expertise and intimate knowledge of pResidential criminality...

Interesting times indeed...

[lostnfound]

9. kick

[Don_G]

10. Cheney Got "Lawyered Up" Too

One Terrence O'Donnell.

[seemslikeadream]

11. Cheney, Rumsfeld on abuse trial witness list

Jon Sarche

June 4, 2004 | DENVER (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are on a "catchall list'' of potential witnesses in the case of Pfc. Lynndie England, an Army reservist facing a court-martial for alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners, her attorneys said Thursday.

England is featured in some of the photos taken at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad that have made the case an international scandal. Six other soldiers also face military charges in the case.


The list of potential witnesses for a hearing this month includes Cheney, Rumsfeld and 134 others.

more
http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/06/04/abuse/index.html

[RedSock]

12. bush says to F opponents over

From CHB link up top:

"... a picture of an administration under siege has emerged, led by a man who declares his decisions to be "God's will" and then tells aides to "fuck over" anyone they consider to be an opponent of the administration."


.... Like Joe Wilson perhaps? Cheney was certainly involved, but I'll bet * knew too. And perhaps okayed it (or agreed with Unca Dick).