Rove, indictments, and security clearances … oh my
Just how close did Karl Rove come to being indicted by Patrick Fitzgerald? Surprisingly close.
The AP reported that several interesting documents related to the Plame leak investigation were unsealed late on Friday, and among the revelations are insights on Fitzgerald targeting Rove. As one judge wrote, “Regarding [Time reporter Matthew] Cooper, the special counsel has demonstrated that his testimony is essential to charging decisions regarding White House adviser Karl Rove.”
Jeralyn Merritt notes that the unredacted materials highlight just how close Rove was to a criminal charge.
[O]n page 39: “Thus, given the compelling showing of need and exhaustion, plus the sharply tilted balance between harm and news value, the special counsel may overcome the reporters’ qualified privilege, even if his only purpose — at least at this stage of his investigation — is to shore up perjury charges against leading suspects such as Libby and Rove.”
The unredaction there is the last two words: “and Rove.”
And yet, while we were learning about Rove just barely skating by on an indictment, we were also learning that Rove’s security clearance at the White House has been renewed.
Should White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove be privy to the nation’s most sensitive secrets? Did he break trust with President Bush and the nation when he told syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak about Valerie Plame’s classified job with the CIA? Did he further erode that trust in 2003 when he told then-White House press secretary Scott McClellan that, as McClellan put it, there was “no truth” to rumors that he played a role in the disclosure of Plame’s identity?
Rove, of course, was investigated by special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald in the CIA leak case but was never charged. His security clearance was renewed after a reinvestigation in late 2006, which has puzzled Rep . Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
In a letter sent last week to White House Counsel Fred F. Fielding, Waxman alleged that Rove’s actions amounted to a violation of presidential guidelines that say “deliberate or negligent disclosure” of classified information can disqualify a staffer from future access to such material. Also being less than forthcoming, even about unintentional breaches, can be cause for revoking a security clearance.
“Under these standards, it is hard to see how Mr. Rove would qualify for renewal of his security clearance,” Waxman wrote.
Remember when Bush vowed to fire anyone in his White House involved with leaking classified information? In Rove’s case, the president not only broke his word and kept Rove in his powerful role, but the White House didn’t even revoke Rove’s security clearance.
Raise your hand if you’re surprised.
Not at all.
But the Dems should let this drop and focus on other things. These guys can’t do any real damage in the next 18+ months.
No surprise.
Rove will just say that this is a Democratic witchhunt. Perhaps it is, but just how smart (or stupid — depending on your perspective) is it to actually do something like leaking classified information like that?
And Libby deserves every amount of time he gets in the federal jail system for throwing sand into the prosecution’s investigation of the leak by means of perjury and obstruction.
But of course, the Republicans will protest that the perjury counts don’t apply when you’re protecting your political friends and it does apply when you’re lying to protect a sexual secret.
Republican Party — A Party of Double Standards….
To be accurate, Bush initially said that he would fire anyone who was involved in the leak, only to later ‘clarify’ that he would fire anyone convicted of leaking classified information.
As with the Iraq war, and indeed most anything else that this Administration has said over the years, when called on it, the goalposts are simply moved.
And nary a peep from the ‘4th estate’…..
Curious….
I recall Fitzgerald’s name on the list of US Attorneys to be fired for a brief time. Was that around the time that Rove was notified that he was not going to be charged?
So much for standard RW Karl Rove is 100% Not Guilty meme.
Al-Most (Sung to All Star by Smash Mouth) by Karl Rove
Somebody once told me that Matt is gonna roll me
But I’m the nastiest dog in the shed
Fitz was looking kind of bummed with his finger and his thumb
With a gap between them oh so narrow
Well the facts start coming and they don’t stop coming
Ignore the rules and I dodge the newsies running
Didn’t make sense not to lie for Dick
Your bank gets fat but your soul gets numb
So much to leak so much to say
So what’s wrong with doing the back stabs
You’ll never know if you don’t lie
You’ll never walk if you don’t spin
[Chorus:]
Hey now you’re an Almost get some lawyers, go play
Hey now you’re “innocent” do the spining get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only leaking spies break the mold
It’s a hot place and they say it gets hotter
You’re dodged it now but wait ’til you get older
But ole Pat Fitzgerald beg to differ
Judging by stories on the satellite newsnets
The ice I skate is getting pretty thin
The waters getting warm so you might as well spin
My world’s on fire how about yours
That’s the way I like it and I never get bored
[Repeat Chorus 2x]
Somebody once told me that Matt is gonna roll me
I need to keep myself away from Libby
I said yep what a maroon
He could use a little spin himself
And he could just deny the little charge
Well the facts start coming and they don’t stop coming
Ignore the rules and I dodge the newsies running
Didn’t make sense not to lie for Dick
Your bank gets fat but your soul gets numb
So much to leak so much to say
So what’s wrong with doing the back stabs
You’ll never know if you don’t lie
You’ll never walk if you don’t spin
Given the role of Cheney in the “Bush” White House and how decisions are actually reached, the question is…When will Cheney decide to pardon Libby?…. And then slip the prepared order under the pen for W’s signature.
Anyone who reissues a security clearance for someone who deliberately leaked classified information should be imnpeached.
But Nancy Pelosi says defending the constitution just “isn’t worth it” unless she knows she can get all the votes before the investigation even begins.
Hey Bubba @ 1,
Your comment
got me to want to get together with you. See, I’ve got this bridge I’ve been looking to sell, and you sound like you might be in the market….
infoshaman
First, it’s bubba with a ‘b’. Second, if you spent any time reading my comments at this site you would have instantly recognized this comment as very sarcastic, and disgusted, snark. Third, it doesn’t surprise me at all that you would want to get together with me.