Actually, this will only be the start. For one, Rove is still under investigation. More importantly, the trial itself will not be conducted under secrecy. A number of inside things will come out, and Cheney may be required to testify about his conversations. Internal figures in the White House are going to have to explain why they were discussing Joe Wilson's wife in the first place.
5 counts! Libby was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements, court documents show.
You wish. 1 count of obstruction of justice 2 counts of perjury 2 counts of making false statements -Bush and Mclelan(sp) caught in a lie that nobody in the WH was involved -Bush still backpedaling from his "I'll fire anyone involved" comment The press are going to keep hounding them on these. We may have a continuing investigation into Rove, and perhaps the Niger forgeries. Even if there's no grand jury extension and no idictments for Rove now, we have an ongoing investigation into the whole mess as Libby will now have to defend himself in court. More witnesses, more testimony, more digging into the lies that the administration used to sell the Iraq war. In the words of Ann Coulter regarding an ongoing investigation, "That is like the worst case scenario." http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/28/coulter-leak/
More speculation on my part: Almost all analyists and reporters with sources predicted multiple indictments. It was also widely reported that there was a lot of negotiating and plea-bargaining at the 11th hour. That we only have one indictment today indicates that the hypothetical 'others' who were implicated have bargained themselves out of it. That probably means they have to give more testimony/evidence in exchange, which will only empower the upcoming investigation as those in the highest seats of power are implicated.
Very important point there. As the trial and investigation continue, there will be a steady stream of negative press, keeping the WHIG lies in the headlines for months and years to come. The administrations' policy of obstruction will only serve to drag it out longer and more painfully.
Damn, and I thought all the nutria drowned in Katrina. Oh well, I guess he must of been lucky that fat floats up to the surface..
so here's my take on this: -Libby did the right thing by resigning -Lying to a GJ, or federal investigators is a serious charge -If the charges are accurate, Libby deserves to be spanked -It important to remember however, that he lied in an investigation that has yet to produce evidence of a crime being committed. -Joe Wilson lied about the results of his trip to Niger -The italian forgeries played no role in the "16 words" As to the larger political implications, i'll let the rest of you sort it out...
-It important to remember however, that he lied in an investigation that has yet to produce evidence of a crime being committed. I think better said 'evidence beyond a reasonable doubt' (or at least in the mind of Fitzgerald). That a crime was committed is not in question. Whether the prosecutor can prove it 'beyond a reasonable doubt' is in question.
Lying before a grand jury is lying before a grand jury, I don't think it much matters from where the lie originated or if they are "lying about a lie" or whatever. Whew I think I just confused myself.
