NationStates Jolt Archive


Still no indictments...

Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 18:42
By PETE YOST and JOHN SOLOMON
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON

The federal grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA officer's identity met for three hours Wednesday with Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald and adjourned for the day without announcing any action.

Fitzgerald is known to be putting the finishing touches on a two-year criminal probe that has ensnared two senior White House aides.

After the grand jury left for the day, federal prosecutors conferred for about an hour in the grand jury area of the federal courthouse.

There was no word on whether Fitzgerald planned to make any announcement or whether the grand jury planned to meet again.
The Cat-Tribe
26-10-2005, 18:47
So what?
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 18:50
So what?

Just as it is possible that indictments will be handed down, I think it is possible that absolutely no indictments will be handed down.

Part of the reason that I believe they interviewed Plame's neighbors and went over that evidence today is that it came out a while back that most of her friends and neighbors knew she was a CIA agent. So said the handler that trained Valerie Plame.
Stephistan
26-10-2005, 18:51
This isn't exactly news.. They have until Friday, and if he wants to extend the Grand Jury, that is an option open to him as well. No one knows what is going to happen. Funny thing this probe, there have been NO LEAKS. hehe no leaks in a leak investigation I would say is a good thing.
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
26-10-2005, 18:56
So, then, the news is that there isn't any news, but there might be news at a future date. There was also news in the past, and you can review that if you are interested, but you probably won't be seeing as you've read it all before.
Aromatique
26-10-2005, 18:56
This isn't exactly news.. They have until Friday, and if he wants to extend the Grand Jury, that is an option open to him as well. No one knows what is going to happen. Funny thing this probe, there have been NO LEAKS. hehe no leaks in a leak investigation I would say is a good thing.

No leaks?!! You gotta be kidding me, right? If there have been no leaks, why does every news media in the world know what is being discussed and analyzed in a "secret" "private" investigation if not a prosecution that leaks like a sieve. I hope they hold everyone accountable in this mess, from the blabbering prosecution clear on back to the nepotism and false reports filed trying to hurt Bush.
The Cat-Tribe
26-10-2005, 18:58
Just as it is possible that indictments will be handed down, I think it is possible that absolutely no indictments will be handed down.

Part of the reason that I believe they interviewed Plame's neighbors and went over that evidence today is that it came out a while back that most of her friends and neighbors knew she was a CIA agent. So said the handler that trained Valerie Plame.

ROTFLASTC
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 18:59
This isn't exactly news.. They have until Friday, and if he wants to extend the Grand Jury, that is an option open to him as well. No one knows what is going to happen. Funny thing this probe, there have been NO LEAKS. hehe no leaks in a leak investigation I would say is a good thing.

No leaks? I guess you haven't been watching ABC News, or other news outlets in the US.

Most of the news media down here is saying there will definitely be indictments.

An ABC News reporter at the White House when asking questions demanded to know about White House reaction to indictments - yesterday - he said that he had double sourced that he knew that indictments would be handed down and he wanted White House reaction. Later last night, ABC News denied having double sourced any such thing.

The number of these anonymous sources being reported in the US press is very, very large.

No leaks?
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 19:00
ROTFLASTC

Tell you what. If there are no indictments, you owe me a steak dinner at The Capitol Grille. 6th & Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Stephistan
26-10-2005, 19:05
No leaks? I guess you haven't been watching ABC News, or other news outlets in the US.

Most of the news media down here is saying there will definitely be indictments.

An ABC News reporter at the White House when asking questions demanded to know about White House reaction to indictments - yesterday - he said that he had double sourced that he knew that indictments would be handed down and he wanted White House reaction. Later last night, ABC News denied having double sourced any such thing.

The number of these anonymous sources being reported in the US press is very, very large.

No leaks?

No there have been no leaks about whether there will or will not be indictments, are the news outlets speculating it up the ying yang? Of course, that's what they do. But no one knows what is going to happen. If they do, they aren't talking.
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 19:06
No there have been no leaks about whether there will or will not be indictments, are the news outlets speculating it up the ying yang? Of course, that's what they do. But no one knows what is going to happen. If they do, they aren't talking.

According to all of our local commerical news stations here, there's been leaking left and right about indictments.

That may very well be their own speculation masquerading as "anonymous sources tell us", but it doesn't make it right.

If they are speculating, they should say they are speculating, instead of saying, "anonymous sources told us".
The Cat-Tribe
26-10-2005, 19:08
Tell you what. If there are no indictments, you owe me a steak dinner at The Capitol Grille. 6th & Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Deal.
Stephistan
26-10-2005, 19:10
According to all of our local commerical news stations here, there's been leaking left and right about indictments.

That may very well be their own speculation masquerading as "anonymous sources tell us", but it doesn't make it right.

If they are speculating, they should say they are speculating, instead of saying, "anonymous sources told us".

Still doesn't negate that there have been no leaks.
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 19:17
Still doesn't negate that there have been no leaks.

Technically, we should have no idea what they are discussing in there.

As it is, we know what evidence they are covering - even today.

We know, for example, that they reviewed testimony of Valerie Plame's neighbors and friends concerning whether or not they knew (before all this) that she was an employee of the CIA.

Since the prosecutor made no announcement of this, and this goes far, far beyond speculation, pray tell how did the whole world find out?

Leaks.
Stephistan
26-10-2005, 19:19
Technically, we should have no idea what they are discussing in there.

As it is, we know what evidence they are covering - even today.

We know, for example, that they reviewed testimony of Valerie Plame's neighbors and friends concerning whether or not they knew (before all this) that she was an employee of the CIA.

Since the prosecutor made no announcement of this, and this goes far, far beyond speculation, pray tell how did the whole world find out?

Leaks.

Speculation does not equal leaks.. and of course we know what the investigation is about. :rolleyes:
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 19:20
Speculation does not equal leaks.. and of course we know what the investigation is about. :rolleyes:

Knowing about what was discussed today in detail is not speculation.

And knowing which neighbors were spoken to and having them tell the press everything they saw in the grand jury room is a leak.
Waterkeep
26-10-2005, 20:01
Part of the reason that I believe they interviewed Plame's neighbors and went over that evidence today is that it came out a while back that most of her friends and neighbors knew she was a CIA agent. So said the handler that trained Valerie Plame.
Would this be the "two wrongs makes it alright" theory?
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 20:02
Would this be the "two wrongs makes it alright" theory?

No, that would be "it wasn't a secret by the time it got out" theory.

Of course, that would mean that Valerie Plame could be indicted under the Espionage Act. What a twist!
Stephistan
26-10-2005, 20:05
No, that would be "it wasn't a secret by the time it got out" theory.

Of course, that would mean that Valerie Plame could be indicted under the Espionage Act. What a twist!


Now you're really reaching..lol

I hope for the indictments personally, but given how much power the Republicans have over just about everything, I won't be surprised if the fuckers get off for it. Cause you know it was done with malice, that much few dispute.
The Cat-Tribe
26-10-2005, 20:06
No, that would be "it wasn't a secret by the time it got out" theory.

Of course, that would mean that Valerie Plame could be indicted under the Espionage Act. What a twist!

Of course, under the most relevant statutes the "wasn't a secret" defense only applies if OFFICIALLY it isn't a secret. Even after it is published in the NYT it can be a protected secret.

You are just throwing out smokescreens at this point.
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 20:48
Now you're really reaching..lol

I hope for the indictments personally, but given how much power the Republicans have over just about everything, I won't be surprised if the fuckers get off for it. Cause you know it was done with malice, that much few dispute.

Given that the grand jury hasn't offered any indictments, when the usual pattern is to pop one out every once in a while during the investigation, makes me think you're going to have to get used to disappointment.

While I think that perjury and obstruction of justice might be likely, the other violations are less likely.

If they do indict on the espionage violations, and she's told her neighbors, she'll have to be indicted as well.

Grand juries don't always do what you want.
The Cat-Tribe
26-10-2005, 21:08
Given that the grand jury hasn't offered any indictments, when the usual pattern is to pop one out every once in a while during the investigation, makes me think you're going to have to get used to disappointment.

While I think that perjury and obstruction of justice might be likely, the other violations are less likely.

If they do indict on the espionage violations, and she's told her neighbors, she'll have to be indicted as well.

Grand juries don't always do what you want.

You deliberately ignore the Intelligence Identities Protection Act (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Intelligence_Identities_Protection_Act).

And note: 50 USC 422(d):

It shall not be an offense under section 421 of this title for an individual to disclose information that solely identifies himself as a covert agent.
Sierra BTHP
26-10-2005, 21:11
You deliberately ignore the Intelligence Identities Protection Act (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Intelligence_Identities_Protection_Act).

And note: 50 USC 422(d):

It shall not be an offense under section 421 of this title for an individual to disclose information that solely identifies himself as a covert agent.

She would have violated the Espionage Act, not the act you cite.

There are plenty of laws to indict people under. In fact, an imaginative prosecutor could probably indict everyone that's been called to testify, on one thing or another.
Beer and Guns
26-10-2005, 23:19
This whole investigation is a huge waste of money and time .
Beer and Guns
26-10-2005, 23:35
Interesting reading .

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/244chpdw.asp?pg=2

I found about a hundred " leaks " in about 15 minutes...its not even worth linking them all ...:rolleyes: safe to say its nuts to think there have been no leaks about the leak case ..but it seems they dont come from the special prosecuter...just the usual bunch of idiots .

Second Cheney aide cooperating in leak probe, those close to case say
Jason Leopold and Larisa Alexandrovna


Print This | Email This


A second aide to Vice President Dick Cheney is cooperating with the special prosecutor's probe into the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson, those close to the investigation say.

Late Monday, several sources familiar with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s probe said John Hannah, a key aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and one of the architects of the Iraq war, was cooperating with Fitzgerald after being told that he was identified by witnesses as a co-conspirator in the leak. Sources said Hannah was not given immunity, but was likely offered a “deal” in exchange for information that could result in indictments of key White House officials.



etc.
Ravenshrike
26-10-2005, 23:38
Deal.
Witnessed.
Beer and Guns
26-10-2005, 23:45
not a leak....

Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby have been advised that they may be in serious legal jeopardy, the lawyers said, but only this week has Mr. Fitzgerald begun to narrow the possible charges. The prosecutor has said he will not make up his mind about any charges until next week, government officials say.

With the term of the grand jury expiring in one week, though, some lawyers in the case said they were persuaded that Mr. Fitzgerald had all but made up his mind to seek indictments. None of the lawyers would speak on the record, citing the prosecutor's requests not to talk about the case.




It seems they have to invent leaks because they are starved for them :D


Fitzgerald's investigation has also thrown Washington's chattering class of pundits and political junkies into a tizzy because of the unusually leak-free way in which he has conducted the probe since launching it in December 2003. A capital where leaks and political gossip are like mother's milk finds itself on a starvation diet..etc.