| Scooter Alert! I know, everyone is probably writing this down somewhere, or reading it somewhere, but this is too good to not post myself!
Washingtonpost.com
Cheney Adviser Indicted in CIA Leak Probe
I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby Resigns After Announcement
By William Branigin, Carol D. Leonnig and Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, October 28, 2005; 1:39 PM
A federal grand jury today indicted Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, after a two-year investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity but spared -- at least for now --President Bush's top political strategist, Karl Rove. Libby was indicted on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements. The five-count indictment charged that he gave misleading information to the grand jury, allegedly lying about information he discussed with three news reporters. It alleged that he committed perjury before the grand jury in March 2004 and that he also lied to FBI agents investigating the case. Shortly after the indictment was announced, Libby resigned his White House positions. The indictment of Libby, 55, was presented in court today by the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, as the grand jury's term expired. Although no indictment was announced for Rove, 54, the White House deputy chief of staff, today's proceedings did not remove him from legal jeopardy. Sources close to the case said the investigation of Rove is continuing. continue reading here
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Although the focus has been on Rove and Libby, Cheney himself has been publicly implicated in recent days in the chain of events that led to the exposure of Plame. The New York Times reported Monday that Fitzgerald possesses notes taken by Libby showing that he learned about Plame from the vice president a month before she was identified by Novak. The White House did not dispute the report. Two lawyers involved in the case said Fitzgerald apparently has been aware of Libby's June 12, 2003, conversation with Cheney since the early days of his investigation. Cheney told NBC's Russert in September 2003 that he did not know Wilson or who sent him on the trip to Africa. Around the same time, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said any suggestion that Rove was involved in the leak was "ridiculous." McClellan said President Bush has set "the highest of standards" for his administration and that if any officials were involved in the leak, "they would no longer be in this administration." Asked in June 2004 whether he would fire anyone who leaked Plame's name, Bush replied in the affirmative. But in July this year, Bush appeared to add a qualifier, telling reporters he would dismiss anyone who "committed a crime" in the case. The White House refused to clarify whether an indictment would trigger termination, or if that would require a conviction. During the investigation, Fitzgerald sought grand jury testimony from several journalists who had spoken with administration officials about Plame, and he came down hard on those who refused to cooperate. The federal judge in the case, Thomas F. Hogan, ordered the New York Times's Miller held for contempt for refusing to identify a confidential source, and she spent 85 days in jail in Alexandria, Va., before agreeing to testify about conversations with Libby. Although she did not write an article about the case, Miller interviewed Libby about the Plame matter and promised him anonymity. Miller said she agreed to testify when Libby specifically and personally released her from the confidentiality pledge. Among those interviewed by Fitzgerald in the case have been Bush, Cheney and several of their top aides and advisers.
© 2005 The Washington Post Company
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