Report: Lawyers say CIA leak inquiry widens to probe 'broader conspiracy'

[rawstory]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Report_Lawyers_say_investigation_into_CIA_1011.html

RAW STORY

There are signs that prosecutors now are looking into contacts between administration officials and journalists that took place much earlier than previously thought, the Wall Street Journal will report Wednesday, RAW STORY can reveal. Excerpts from the coming story:

#

Earlier conversations are potentially significant, because that suggests the special prosecutor leading the investigation is exploring whether there was an effort within the administration at an early stage to develop and disseminate confidential information to the press that could undercut former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife, Central Intelligence Agency official Valerie Plame.

Mr. Wilson had become a thorn in the Bush administration's side, as he sought to undermine the administration's claims that Iraq had sought to buy materials for building nuclear weapons from other countries, such as uranium "yellowcake" from Niger. Ultimately, his wife's name and identity were disclosed in a newspaper column, prompting the investigation into whether someone in the administration broke the law by revealing the identity of an undercover agent.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Report_Lawyers_say_investigation_into_CIA_1011.html

[mzmolly]

1. I wonder if this goes even deeper than Plame?

Well, I guess we all know that it does. ;) I mean on the part of Fitzgerald?

Thanks for the information.

[WestHoustonDem]

3. Like into Bolton spying on El Baradei? n/t

[Robertwf]

17. I think he needs to pursue the French

Connection here. Remember, France was threatening to indict Cheney over Halliburton business in Nigeria. Who's supplying what to whom and for how much?

[Tigress DEM]

21. Didn't Haliburton have as many as 17 investigations going on for awhile?

Not sure how those cases wound up.

[sofa king]

58. They are being "taken care of" by Stuart Bowen

Who's Stuart Bowen, you ask? He's the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

He's also--stop me if you've heard this one before--a former counsel to George W. Bush.

http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=2740

Here's a report from this year:

http://www.sigir.mil/pdf/July_05_Congress/July30_2005_report.pdf

I find page 59 of that report particularly interesting. I'm not a lawyer, but it would appear that the False Claims Act does not apply to claims which used Development Fund for Iraq money.

The Coalition Provisional Authority was responsible for the distribution of some $600 million in DFI cash. A great many of those contracts went to Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root. KBR has already been cited for improperly accounting for CPA property (see, e.g., p. 23, here: http://www.sigir.mil/pdf/July_05_Congress/App_J-July_2005.pdf ). KBR received many CPA contracts, and many of them were of indeterminate competition type (as in "no bid" see pp. 14-15 http://www.sigir.mil/pdf/July_05_Congress/App_K-July_2005.pdf).

Mr. Bowen has dutifully slapped KBR's hand multiple times in print.

This goes along pretty well with the general stories out there: Halliburton, playing with Curveball--I mean Dr. Chalabi, batted back and forth millions of dollars until it all just sorta disappeared, either into the profit margin or into CPA officials' pockets. And don't even try to get it back, 'cause KBR stole it from the Iraqi people, not God-fearing Americans in the top two percent of the income bracket.

[mzmolly]

18. Could be? And/or knowingly lying us into war?

I'm likely getting ahead of myself though. ;)

I'll take an indictment of any stripe.

[EFerrari]

41. Like the FBI bugging Blix?

What haven't these criminals done.

[AuntiBush]

70. Way Deeper, Me Thinks.

It begins with the planning of the War... maybe.

[mzmolly]

74. I'm hopin so.

:hi:

[Pirate Smile]

2. It brings it home to the WHIG's.

"Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson's claims."

[Stephanie]

24. Excellent! I am stunned this is finally coming out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Iraq_Group#Members

The members of the White House Iraq Group are: <7>

Karl Rove
Karen Hughes
Mary Matalin
James R. Wilkinson
Nicholas E. Calio
Condoleezza Rice
Stephen Hadley
I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby

[belle]

40. Mary Matalin, huh.

You know, James Carville must be one complex guy. And that must be one *interesting* marriage...

[Love Bug]

57. I have a theory about that...

I think they fight about politics and end up having hot, steamy sex. That's the only reason I can think why a good ol' boy like Carville would end up with a tight-ass yankee woman like Matalin.

[nradisic]

4. This is the one They're Toast!

Fitzy is going to single-handedly save the Republic. The Plame investigation is in the process of exposing the utter ring of GOP corruption. 2006 is our 1994. If they don't resign, they will be impeached. Grab the popcorn and take a seat. Hollywood could not imagine a movie like this...You want reality TV? Saty tuned....

[skooooo]

6. Yee haw!

:bounce:

[Robertwf]

12. It could be billed as Survivor

[Stephanie]

25. I'm buying cable!

I want to see these hearings LIVE!

[Prodemsouth]

68. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. He could very well

issue a blistering report but then conclude it was unethical but not criminal. The result could very well be no indictments. None of us know what is in Fitzgerald's heart or mind.

[Straight Shooter]

5. I'm hoping Fitzgerald will focus on Brewster Jennings as much as on Plame.

Plame is becoming a household word (finally). Brewster Jennings has yet to be. By the time this is over, I want the world to know what Ms. Plame's official capacity was (tracking WMD to keep us safe) and which company was covering for her and how the leak blew everything wide open.

I very much would like to know how many lives were lost or threatened, and how many millions of taxpayers' dollars went down the drain because someone got too close to Cheney's secret stash of nukes.

[HootieMcBoob]

16. I said the same thing earlier today

There has been next to nothing said about Brewster & Jennings by the corporate media. It took them ages to mention the espionage act also. They have a long learning curve.

[Tesibria]

7. WSJ Article is Up

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112907415441266084.html?mod=politics_primary_hs

[kostya]

10. darn, bugmenot is not working on that site.... n/t

[converted_democrat]

59. Try this link, I think it is the same article.......

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB112907415441266084-VDsI1ez92Qlr0_XPP5IbwfiUKHI_20051111.html?mod=blogs

[kostya]

77. Thanks! n/t

[bunny planet]

8. It's beginning to look a lot like Fitzmas. fa, la,la,la,la.

[unblock]

19. lol!

:rofl:

[CoffeeCat]

9. The outing of Plame touches so many other issues...

...and it is at the heart of the Iraq war and this administration's spin machine, that it used to manipulate us into a war based on lies.

I really hope that what Fitz has been doing these past two years--is exposing the extensive lies and marketeering in which this administration engaged--in order to get their war.

Two years is a long time for an investigation. There must be other tangents to this thing--other than the question, "Did some people conspire to reveal Plame's identity to punish Wilson for his article?".

My guess...is that this administration will be outed on some incredibly major issues. Maybe even some that we don't even know about yet.

There are probably many people who Fitz has interviewed, who had plenty to say. Can you imagine the slew of disgruntled and disenchanted CIA officials who know very damning evidence (and probably have solid proof of what they say) about this administration? BushCo treated the CIA like shit. They tried to blame the CIA for so many things. Plus, when Goss came in, all of the decent, honest people were driven out.

Could it be that some of those decent CIA officials were driven out of their offices--and right into the arms of Fitz?

This could be bigger than any of us could EVER imagine.

I don't like the lag time though. It scares me. I fear for Fitz.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Tectonic shift?

:shrug:

[electropop]

73. More like an asteroid impact.

:nuke:

Tectonic shifts occur on geologic timescales. This will will hit quite suddenly once it gets momentum.

[astonamous]

15. I think we can imagine if we have been paying attention...

It's as big as we imagine and what we are trying to do is suppress any excitement until we see that the whole thing is revealed to those that don't have a clue because they watch TV.

Could it be that Fitzgerald is drawing all the same lines and connecting all the same players?

I hope so.

[sofa king]

60. Could be bigger, even.

Through WHIG, central Plame suspect, and conductor of the criminal symphony we have Karl Rove.

Rove may be in trouble because of the answers he first gave to his good buddy John Ashcroft, while Ashcroft was trying to sweep all this under the rug, just before this case was handed off to a Special Counsel.

John Ashcroft is also central to the stonewalling of the 9/11 investigations, and in particular his vigorous efforts to separate drug cases and money laundering cases from the movements of the 9/11 terrorists.

That vigorous stonewalling makes sense if you consider the buried story that the 9.11 terrorists paid a visit to Jack Abramoff's SunCruz boat just a week before they attacked.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:1UeufYqqE6IJ:www.bonitanews.com/01/09/florida/d678875a.htm+%22attack:+suncruz%22&hl=en

Jack Abramoff's personal assistant in the '90s was a woman named Susan Ralston. She became Karl Rove's personal assistant in the White House.

Jack Abramoff appears to have bought temporary freedom courtesy of John Ashcroft, by filtering much of his ill-gotten gains back into the Republican Party.

Was some of that money al Qaeda's money?

Did the White House know in advance of the attacks of September 11?

Were those attacks allowed to happen in order to justify a war against Iraq, one highly profitable to friends of the Bush Administration?

And were those stakes the stakes which made it worth WHIG sticking their necks out so far as to burn a covert agent and compromise an unknown number of others?

Right now, there aren't enough pieces in the puzzle, but the ones we do have are starting to fit together nicely, I think.

[Tight_rope]

66. This statement would fit in real good right here and now!....

"No matter how paranoid or conspiracy-minded you are, what the government is actually doing is worse than you imagine.":kick:

[mzmolly]

20. This is what I'm thinking.

It would be remarkable to see justice served.

[DoYouEverWonder]

45. We have a long road ahead of us before justice is served

Grand Jury indictments are just the beginning. The constitutional crisis that this is going to set off is going to be the interesting part. Don't pop that champaign yet. We have a long way to go yet.

[leftchick]

39. Speaking of the CIA makes me think of Tenet....

I bet old george had some interesting things to say under oath...

:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

46. I heard Tenet was very cooperative

If he was then this whole thing is going to explode. Sort of like Clash of the Titans. I just hope the good guys win.

[barb162]

11. I just wish they'd announce at least SOME indctments already

This is taking forever, it really is.

[Tesibria]

22. freep agrees with you

one of my favorite posts tonight ... (yes, i'm an admitted lurker) ...

Heck, Oreilly just had Bill Salmon (from the Washington Times) on his show and both he and BORe think Rove's 4 appearances before the GJ indicate he may be guilty of perjury.
I'll say a prayer that BOR & Salmon are wrong. If Rove goes down, the dems will go nuts and the next thing you know, they'll morf GWB into Nixon and there'll be a clamoring for impeachment hearings. The thought sickens me beyond belief. The waiting is agony....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1500785/posts?page=85
Post 96

[barb162]

26. bwaha!

It does seem to be taking forever, like 300 years or something?

[warrens]

50. There's a scumbucket whose misery I thoroughly enjoy

Mean, bitter, spiteful? Moi? Remember, after we take over in upcoming years, never let the camel nose of the psychopathic right wing under the tent ever again. Our problem is and always has been that we tolerate the clearly insane.

[electropop]

72. Freepers in agony. Delightful!

:toast:

And we won't morph Bushitler into Nixon. That would be an insult to Nixon. This guy is infinitely more dangerous, and we can't afford to stop at impeachment. Here's hoping Fitz et al can jail him.

[SayitAintSo]

13. There's speculation on Cheney being implicated....

Check out the latest on FireDogLake Blog .... one of the best blogs tracking Traitorgate ....



http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/


:bounce:

[Wordie]

63. Oh jeez, I love this. Will the puppet even be able to function without

the brain and the man behind the curtain???

[GetTheRightVote]

23. This admin is capable of all types of criminal actions,

they really like to get their way no matter what needs to happen to get it, yet they tried to make us believe that they love this nation.

:kick:

[Robeson]

27. It's not "is capable". It's they HAVE done criminal actions.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

28. WSJ Article: Focus of CIA Leak Probe Appears to Widen

There are signs that prosecutors now are looking into contacts between administration officials and journalists that took place much earlier than previously thought. Earlier conversations are potentially significant, because that suggests the special prosecutor leading the investigation is exploring whether there was an effort within the administration at an early stage to develop and disseminate confidential information to the press that could undercut former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife, Central Intelligence Agency official Valerie Plame.

Snip

Mr. Wilson had become a thorn in the Bush administration's side, as he sought to undermine the administration's claims that Iraq had sought to buy materials for building nuclear weapons from other countries, such as uranium "yellowcake" from Niger. Ultimately, his wife's name and identity were disclosed in a newspaper column, prompting the investigation into whether someone in the administration broke the law by revealing the identity of an undercover agent.

Snip

Since then, her lawyers have told Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor investigating the leak of the CIA agent's identity, that Ms. Miller's notes show that she also spoke with Mr. Libby in late June, information that was not previously given to the grand jury.

Mr. Fitzgerald's pursuit now suggests he might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent's name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy.

Snip

Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson's claims.

Given that the grand jury is set to expire on Oct. 28, it is possible charges in this case could come as early as next week. Former federal prosecutors say it is traditional not to wait for the last minute and run the risk of not having enough jurors to reach a quorum. There are 23 members of a grand jury, and 16 are needed for a quorum before any indictments could be voted on. This grand jury has traditionally met on Wednesdays and Fridays.

[aquart]

29. Link?

[TahitiNut]

31. It's Rawstory. Here's the link ...

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Report_Lawyers_say_investigation_into_CIA_1011.html

[Bumblebee]

32. WSJ is subscription only

[Bumblebee]

30. This is very promising indeed.

Miller is testifying tomorrow; Rove on Friday. By Monday Fitz may well have something -- or after Wednesday, if he is going to keep the current jury schedule. Hope he does not disappoint us!

[TahitiNut]

33. Here's the "bulls-eye" paragraph ...

"Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson's claims."


The members of the White House Iraq Group are:
* Karl Rove
* Karen Hughes
* Mary Matalin
* James R. Wilkinson
* Nicholas E. Calio
* Condoleezza Rice
* Stephen Hadley
* I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=White_House_Iraq_Group
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Iraq_Group

[Stephanie]

34. Yes! Yes! Yes!

WHIG goes down and takes Bush/Cheney OUT.

James Carville, what were you thinking?

[TahitiNut]

36. It's no wonder Carville was getting under Novak's skin with every smirk.

Carville knew even more than Novak.

[Baconfoot]

35. Is it time to download "We are the champions" yet? NT

[jobycom]

37. I wish

But I'll wait until it happens. I thought they had Reagan, too, and he skated.

[Baconfoot]

38. Maybe just "Eye of the Tiger" then NT

[EFerrari]

42. 110 indictments during the Reagan administration.

And nobody remembers. :(

[jobycom]

44. But not Reagan or Bush

If they'd have impeached Reagan or Bush, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now.

[EFerrari]

51. Yep. And maybe fixed Bush as well. n/t

[RedEarth]

47. LINK to the article....

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB112907415441266084-VDsI1ez92Qlr0_XPP5IbwfiUKHI_20051111.html

[Beetwasher]

49. ChaChing!!! This is the Motherload!!

Yeah baby!

[cassiepriam]

43. With the "new" notes, could they be setting Fitz up, like Dan Rather?

[Tesibria]

48. well - that'd be a .. uhm .. problem, cause once it came out

that they were fake, then there'd be perjury and obstruction of justice charges for SURE.

Not sure ANYONE is willing to fall on their sword that way.

[cassiepriam]

62. I hear you but do not underestimate these people, they are

in trouble and will do most anything.

[jobycom]

52. BIG difference.

Rather was a journalist. All they had to do was turn public opinion against him. They never even proved he was wrong.

Fitzgerald is a prosecuter. Lying to him would get someone in trouble. And even if they turned public opinion against him, he could still prosecute them.

[cassiepriam]

61. Not if they can get him fired.

That is how they operate. Seduce or threaten any opponent. Render er them impotent one way or another. If they cannot bride Fitz they have to ruin him somehow. But you are saying this way will not work. I hope you are right.

[sofa king]

64. They tried that already. Fitz's suggested boss is already too dirty.

"Aug. 15, 2005 issue - The departure this week of Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who has accepted the post of general counsel at Lockheed Martin, leaves a question mark in the probe into who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Comey was the only official overseeing special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's leak investigation. With Attorney General Alberto Gonzales recused, department officials say they are still trying to resolve whom Fitzgerald will now report to."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8853002/site/newsweek/

Comey appointed a guy named Margolis, widely regarded as a tough, apolitical G-man, to supervise Fitzgerald:

http://www.needlenose.com/node/view/1787

But the Bush Administration had other plans. Comey's named successor was Timothy Flanigan. Flanigan is a typical GOP shill, pals with Dick Armey and Ted Olson; investigated Clinton, etc.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_E._Flanigan

At the loss of considerable entertainment, Mr. Flanigan's nomination was regrettably pulled. Why? Because Flanigan was part of Team Abramoff:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=%22Team_Abramoff%22

Wouldn't that hearing have been fun? Unfortunately, it ain't gonna happen.

Anyway, it would appear that the White House has been momentarily vexed. Gonzales recused himself; the #2 guy named someone honest to supervise Fitz and then left himself, leaving nobody in a position to stall the investigation. It looks as if the only way Bush's boys can get to Fitz is from the top, with a nomination which must be approved by the Senate, and their first choice got caught with same bear's shit sticking to his fur.

Now they have to find a "stealth conspirator," someone who will be able to face a Senate inquiry without ringing the criminal chimes, yet who is still willing to spike an investigation at the eleventh hour. Unfortunately for the Bush Administration, the one lawyer the President still trusts had to be named to the Supreme Court instead.

[sofa king]

65. Oh, I should add....

...I think Flanigan's nomination should be added to the list of potential indictments--obstruction of justice.

In particular, have any Plame-gate watchers noticed the date ranges for document requests from Fitz? Flanigan's name first publicly came up as a candidate for the post in early May, 2005.

[robertpaulsen]

67. They CAN'T fire him. Read this archived thread.

Saturday Night Massacre? BRING IT ON! Why Fitzgerald is UNTOUCHABLE.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4298833

[cassiepriam]

75. The repugs can get rid of anybody. They are masters at it.

Somehow, someway.
Fitz and Earle are not safe.
The system will not protect them, and certainly they cannot count on the American people.

[mountebank]

53. Focus of CIA Leak Probe Appears to Widen (WSJ)

Here's one of the actual articles people have been referring to, from WSJ's public material:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB112907415441266084-VDsI1ez92Qlr0_XPP5IbwfiUKHI_20051111.html?mod=blogs

snip

Mr. Fitzgerald's pursuit now suggests he might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent's name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy.

snip

Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson's claims.

snip

Still, no mention of Cheney except what is implicit in the investigation of the White House Iraq Group.

[Red State Lib]

54. God please send us a new "Deep Throat" (and a Woodward/Bernestein)

no more text....

[Irish Mastiff]

55. I just read an article that said a Bush pardon might not be valid.

This has been worrying me. Here is the link:
http://citizenspook.blogspot.com/2005/09/treasongate-new-constitutional.html

[katty]

56. When WSJ speaks...they've been cleared to open the floodgates wider

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

69. This is HUGH !!!1111!!!

:kick:

[callady]

71. Dick Cheney

he's the one.

[AnnInLa]

76. Much speculation that Fitz will ask for an extension

If he extends THIS grand jury, it would have to be for 6 months. He can also ask for a NEW grand jury and transfer the investigation to it....that would be bad for us, because a NEW grand jury would be for 18 months, and would end after the 2006 elections. Info courtesy of www.talkleft.com