DAVID GREGORY: INVESTIGATIONS QUESTIONING STAFFERS ABOUT ROVE!

[Halliburton]

video on msnbc.com

TODAY!

[OKNancy]

1. Los Angles Times has this story

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-102505leak_lat,0,7947383.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Fitzgerald Focuses Again on Rove
By Tom Hamburger, Richard B. Schmitt and Peter Wallsten
Times Staff Writers

3:38 PM PDT, October 25, 2005

WASHINGTON — As his investigation nears a conclusion, special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald has returned his attention to White House adviser Karl Rove, interviewing a Rove colleague with detailed questions about contacts that President Bush's close aide had with reporters in the days leading up to the outing of a covert CIA officer.

Fitzgerald has also dispatched FBI agents to comb the CIA agent's residential neighborhood in Washington, asking neighbors again whether they were aware — before her name appeared in a syndicated column — that the agent, Valerie Plame, worked for the CIA.

The questioning, described by lawyers familiar with the case and by the neighbors, occurred as Fitzgerald was thought to be readying indictments in the long-running inquiry into the leak of Plame's identity. It is a felony to knowingly identify an undercover agent, and the renewed questions this week suggested that the prosecutor remained focused on the breach of that secrecy.

The inquiry has reached deep into the White House and focuses on Rove and Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby.

A deputy prosecutor called Rove's colleague this afternoon and interviewed him in depth about statements Rove may have made to reporters about the case, a lawyer familiar with the case said.

[writes2000]

7. Seems like Fitzgerald is trying to bust Rove's claim...

that he heard about Plame's CIA position from some social setting in Washington.

[Garbo 2004]

12. I think Rove claimed he heard it from a journalist but couldn't remember

who it was?

Also it appears that Fitz is trying to lock down the RW talking points that "everyone" knew that Plame was CIA, even her neighbors. (When actually one of the Wilsons' next door neighbors said he had absolutely no idea, and reportedly others said they also had no clue.)

Just guessing here, but if as reported Wurmser and/or Hannah were told to leak the Administration's Plame story, perhaps they were just sent out as an advance guard in June to create a low level buzz. That would support the "everyone knew" claim later cited and if I recall some reporters...was Mrs. Greenspan one?...seemed inclined to confirm.

Then Libby and Rove would play cleanup with July chats to NYT, Time, etc. But Libby and Rove simply didn't confirm reports already out there, they appear to have been original sources for the Plame story to Miller (June 23, the meeting Miller and Libby both left out of their grand jury testimony and Fitz busted Judy on it) and Cooper (July 11). And it appears that both Rove and Libby were counting on Cooper and Miller not testifying on those points. (But really, journos don't like imprisonment any more than politicians do.)

Looks like Fitz is really being thorough. And as some have speculated may not have wrapped up the investigation. No doubt the recent testimony (especially if he's got new "cooperating" witnesses) gave him new leads to tie down. He may indeed either extend this grand jury or empanel a new one to follow up.

[DemocracyInaction]

2. Heard something on NBC news tonight

He said that there were now lower level staff members being questioned. Only thing that bothers me is why this stuff is happening in the 9th hour. That doesn't sound like all sewed up. Unless, Rove has officially gotten his notice and now Fitz is bascially breaking down the doors and interviewing who he wants.

[wishlist]

3. Maybe Fitz last minute interviews to avoid tippng his hand earlier? n/t

[skids]

4. Here's why:

He's now rolling up all the details that he couldn't roll up without alerting targets what exactly he was after. The base case is solid, but he's now gathering evidence for the trial before it can be destroyed/coerced into silence.

[Garbo 2004]

13. Maybe also following up stuff to confirm or not confirm what any flippers

may recently have told him.

[Neil Lisst]

5. Fitz is trying to break the dam.

He's on the verge of making people spill their guts. As the word of the Libby indictment leak out, and as the word of the VPs involvement leaks out, staffers down the line have to be thinking "screw this, I ain't goin' to prison for these a-holes!"

Then they start to spill their guts.

[nookiemonster]

10. Agreed.

These rat bastards would sell out their mother before going to the "big house".

Eventually, they break. They all break.


Waiting is a bitch though.
:crazy:

[sendero]

6. I'm a born skeptic...

... (ask anyone :)) but I have to assume Fitzgerald knows what he is doing. Many have offered interesting explanations for some of the things that seem anomalous to us, and I'm sure that some have merit, and I'm sure there are reasons none of us have thought of - how many federal prosecutors are here?

Let's sit back and enjoy. It's clear at this point that there WILL be indictments and I'm sure there is a method to this last minute madness!

[JNelson6563]

8. Well said. Agreed on all points.

:toast:

[understandinglife]

9. Well stated. I think it also necessary for everyone to remember that ...

... the only deadline is that the current GJ term concludes on Friday. Mr Fitzgerald has no term limit on his status as Special Counsel. He can extend the current GJ, impanel additional GJ(s), and continue his investigation, while prosecuting those whom he initially charges.


Peace.

[Spazito]

11. Agree, am waiting to hold my popcorn for as long as it takes, lol