Investigation to continue with new grand jury - Fitzgerald spokesman

[pat_k]

"...Fitzgerald's spokesman, Randall Samborn, said the investigation will continue but with a new grand jury. The term of the current grand jury cannot be extended beyond today...."

Don't know why no one else is reporting this.

http://www.wtkr.com/global/story.asp?s=4042769&ClientTy...

[AzDar]

1. Oh, Jeebus Christ on a trailer hitch..THIS is what we've been waiting for!

(hopefully!!)

[bpilgrim]

79. merry FITZMAS!

the only thing that could begin to restore our & the worlds trust in gov would be to see them (the neoCONs, including & most importantly, *) frogged march to jail for crimes against the peace and humanity.

peace

[uppityperson]

2. bwhahahahahahahahahhaaaaa

[qanda]

3. This is the first I heard of this actually being reported

[Domitan]

4. The Bulldog and Bobby's doberman pinschers are still on the attack!

For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, think of Fitz's nickname...and watch the movie Boys from Brazil if you haven't seen it!

[RedEarth]

5. good news......just what we wanted ...drag this out through the next

election...down down many more corrupt REPUBLICANS

[katty]

32. Yes, yes, yes--let them twist in the wind!

[joeunderdog]

59. They'd rather have a quick conviction than a long exhoneration.

I don't think they'll get either. OJ was convicted in the public eye long before the verdict. There's nothing like speculation and intrigue to take the viewers into a thinking mode instead of just watching. And we all know that a thinking public is the last thing Bushco wants.

The media has love affairs with this kind of drama. They'll be whores to the ratings and the RW agenda will be on trial.

[henslee]

66. delete.

[maddezmom]

6. excellent news

[jillan]

7. YES!!!!!

best news of the day.

[converted_democrat]

16. Ditto that!!!n/t

[lancdem]

18. I'm with you

This is the best Fitzmas present yet!

[ClintonTyree]

47. That's exactly what I'd hoped for.........

when the talking heads were drooling all over the Libby indictment all I wanted to know was, "is the investigation still on-going"? Libby was nice, but I don't want it to stop here and now, thankfully, it won't!

BTW, congratulations to the White Sox and all of their fans. It's been a long time coming and you guys deserve it. Swept that "Texas" team right off the diamond, you did!

[ClassWarrior]

8. Beautiful.

NGU.

[Demobrat]

9. OMG I'm at work and can't scream.

Yaaaaayyyyy! THIS IS THE BEST NEWS YET!

[Kadie]

10. Yes!

[crispini]

11. BINGO! confirmation!

awright!

[AFSCME girl]

12. WOOHOO!!!!!!!

I am just giddy!

AFSCME girl

[Tight_rope]

13. God is listening....

[calimary]

37. It does kinda make you think there really is One, doesn't it?

Renews MY faith a little more, too.

ESPECIALLY since even the biggest sycophants among the Press Corpse are forced to say it's "only interim good news," or "rove is not off the hook," or some such delicate language.

No. rove and perhaps others also are NOT off the hook. They CAN'T breathe a sigh of relief and go back to business as usual. There remains a VERY LARGE, VERY SERIOUS dark cloud over turd blossom's head. He didn't get a clean bill of health today, and he certainly doesn't deserve one.

I loved how somebody from NBC, whether it was Bob Kur or Tim Russert or David Gregory or somebody said this prevents the White House from blithely moving on to the rest of its sinister agenda. They're still on the hot seat with this still hanging over their heads. They were hoping the "distractions" would end. This does nothing of the sort. Only makes the suspense greater, and prolongs the distractions and the agony. Even the toadies on NBC referenced the mistakes bush has made with karl "distracted" as he has been over the past several weeks. GOOD. And this may even be better than flat-out indictments. karl is STILL a liability as it stands now. There's no resolution here, and little satisfaction that rove wasn't indicted - YET. They're still hanging, and with no definitive answer, karl will STAY distracted to some extent. Which means more blunders, mistakes, missteps, and misjudgments. bush is NOT going to jettison his precious turd blossom to make a clean sweep of it and bring in new blood and fresh faces and ideas. Somehow, he'll justify it in his own mind that there's nothing to see here, no reason to shake things up, no reason to cut karl out. He's gonna go with that same accursed mafia-style loyalty. And it'll be a curse on him.

[colbushwhacker_2000]

14. Outstanding !

If this report is accurate, what a hell of a deal......America and the world needs the truth, not spin from the brownshirts....

[KoKo]

51. What does a "Free Press" Mean to you? As a DU'er?

I grew up in a time of a "somewhat Free Press...in a wonderful time in my memory of "Network and PBS Documenatary's" A time where there was alot of funding for the "Arts" which meant "Freedom of Expression" coming out of the "Nazi WWII Era" where folks were so afraid it Might Come Again.

Wonderful Jewish writers...Saul Bellow, Herman Wouk are just "two" who come to mind of that era.

Now...here we are with a Fascist America...and "Freedom of the Press" seems to be passing into "Who Might be Prosecuted." Is Fitz going to haul Russert, Miller and Cooper" back in for his Trial?

How is it that we have SO FEW MEDIA VOICES reporting our NEWS and Government TODAY?

Even in our "MainStream Liberal Fiefdom" we STILL HAVE SO FEW VOICES! I have hope for the NEW INTERNET MEDIA..

They at least have to READ the COMMENTS ON THEIR BLOGS!

[AFSCME girl]

15. This is the latest from

RAWSTORY:

http://www.rawstory.com /

AFSCME girl

[SeattleRob]

17. has this been confirmed anywhere else ???

I mean another mainstream news source? Please let it be....

[UpInArms]

71. CNN link in post #70

[BillZBubb]

19. The gift that keeps on giving! Fitzmas is here.

To me, an new Grand Jury is the best possible outcome. We got one bastard indicted and the rest of them now must be crapping their pants. This may well get a few of them to turn.

Great news!

[Singular73]

20. Has the judge given permission for it yet??

[The Judged]

22. The judge who will decide was appointed by Rehnquist: Judge Thomas Hogan

However, there is gossip circulating on the internet that the decision to convene a new Grand Jury in order to continue this ongoing investigation.

[ClintonTyree]

49. I think they're going to use an already existing GJ....

one was just empaneled I think so there's so need to select a new one. Just as long as somebody keeps looking behind the bush's, I'm happy!

[The Judged]

21. Thus the expected espionage charges may remain impending.

Beware:

To those in the media trumpeting the five indictments handed down by Special Counsel Fitzgerald against Libby and hounding the American Public about how this whole matter was started as a result of a false claim of espionage against the Wilson's, be advised that you are ill advised to challenge the legitimacy of those espionage charges.

The lack of such charges at this time does not and can not be construed to be exoneration for high level Bush Administration officials from such charges.

Instead, you are advised that such charges are not YET forthcoming as a result of an incomplete investigation and as the result of clear and charged false statements, perjury, and obstruction of justice as this investigation has been ongoing and prior to the expiration of this FIRST Grand Jury.

Lastly, contained in the Libby indictments are clear examples of statements of fact by the Special Counsel that underscore the potential for many more indictments to be issued based on even more serious charges up to and including espionage.

[louis-t]

23. My only hope is that they are investigating "up"

and that Libby is the bottom of the totem pole.

[Blaq Dem]

24. Round #2, 1 down many more to go

[stevietheman]

25. Well, Fitzmas on a Fracker! :) n/t

n/t

[Teena]

26. Interesting...

WMDs suddenly don't seem so important to Bush supporters today. They don't get the connection between a woman who has protected our nation from them and the jerks who "outed" her so that some of those extremely sensiive operations have now been disrupted! Time to take a real close look at who, in the Bush administration, doesn't want illegal weapons sales to be investigated further.

[renate]

46. yep--one of those things that make you go Hmmm....

And welcome to DU!

[jamesinca]

78. What I want to know is this?

If Libby is willing to lie to a GJ and spend 30 years in jail as a result, what was he lying about to cover up? What was so important that he had to lie about it? Who's butt is he covering by falling on the sword? They already have their story in place about the CIA giving bad intelligence to start the war. They already had the war going, so it was not a matter of getting that started. I doubt that Libby woke up and said today I will piss off the CIA and lie to a GJ about it. There is something bigger and more sinister behind this, or Libby truly did wake up and say today I piss off the CIA.

What is the motive here?

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Me, neither. Here's the latest update I received from The Guardian...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,16...

[Laurab]

55. "Any trial would shed a spotlight on the secret deliberations

of Mr Bush and his team as they built the case for war against Iraq."


YES!

from the Guardian article....Thanks!!!

[dwp6577]

28. Now if Fitz could employ torture...

with the continuing investigation, I'll be these rethug bastards would really start flipping...never mind...we'd better keep it consistent.

[Rhiannon12866]

33. Welcome to DU, dwp6577!

Glad to have you with us and wishing you a Happy Fitzmas, and many more!!!

[calimary]

39. Welcome to DU, Teena and dwp6577!

Glad you're both here to share Fitzmas with us!

Maybe, just MAYBE, this'll get somebody's attention from the Bad Guys' camp. MAYBE one of them will decide this scorched-earth, tom delay/rove-style hideousness has finally got to stop. The only ones who are in any realistic position to stop it - are those who are in the midst of it. Those who don't play by that hard a hardball game don't have that kind of hardball game to renounce. As is, there aren't even enough of the Good Guys to do anything about it and make it stick. It's the offenders themselves who have to decide that enough is enough.

Do we see anybody, or anybodies, who are trying the attack-dog thing against Fitzgerald? I haven't seen any (haven't exactly been on this nonstop today). What I have seen is evidence that some republi-CONS are now turning on libby, instead of on the prosecutor who's brought libby to his knees. And by the way, the other beautiful thing about this, don't forget, is that - by getting libby, Fitzgerald effectively cut one of cheney's legs off.

[Callalily]

29. Fitzgerald is the MAN for

this job. He exudes honesty, integrity, a stickler for the rules. I am giddy and feel like celebrating! Moral of the story - DO NOT LIE TO THE GRAND JURY!

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Reuters: Leak probe not over: prosecutor

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&st...

[katty]

31. the Watergate template-it took awhile to round 'em all up

[BadGimp]

34. It's Fitzmaka !!!

[yorkiemommie1]

35. keep them off-balance and constantly worried

and distracted. serves them right !

[MasonJar]

36. I heard part of Fitzgerald's live press conference today on NPR.

He said that he was continuing with the grand jury; he played it down. He must be after something from Rove...bargain time. Maybe Cheney?

[dweller]

38. which from what i understand

can last for up to 36 months...

how much time does *moron have left in office?

dp

[apnu]

40. 3 years at my last count (n/t)

[Robert Cooper]

41. Confirmation from AP

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove escaped indictment in the CIA leak case Friday but remained under investigation.

"Rove's lawyer said he was told by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's office that investigators had 'made no decision about whether or not to bring charges' and would continue their probe into Rove's conduct. Rove is President Bush's closest adviser."

- http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/28/rove.leak.ap/ind...

Damn does this bring back those Watergate memories. There's that same sense of watching a train wreck in slow motion.

Bush can't pardon Libby with Rove still waiting in the wings for his turn. Rove will get a chance to think of his own neck watching Libby being sized up for the noose, especially since no one will be riding to Libby's rescue (you swim with the sharks and what do you expect, Karl). Libby starts singing to cut a deal...

...like a train wreck in slow motion

[FighttheFuture]

45. Interesting analysis... perhaps that's why Rove wasn't indicted... yet!

[JJackFlash]

48. "...like a train wreck in slow motion"

I used that exact phrase weeks ago talking about the repugs troubles - it describes it perfectly. The train will continue to crumple for the foreseeable future, car by car.
Yes, it brings back Watergate memories. However, I just heard Woodward (or was it Bernstein?... one of those guys) make the excellent point that, unlike Watergate, in this case, the prosecutor had to start JAILING REPORTERS before the media even got interested and started doing their damn jobs.

[Robert Cooper]

53. New talking points?

Back then you had a youth/college culture hungry for dirt on the WH. A lot of protests against the war, draft, etc. Civil rights marches and assasinations. It was a very turbulent time and the press covered all of it.

And Nixon's WH hated the press. No FOX back then. No Rove to handle the media.

A lot of up-and-coming reporters trying to make a name for themselves.

It's not like that today. Today you find all of that at the blogs and places like DU.

The Right got whupped cause they had no coherent plan. Every time they tried to support Nixon another revelation came out. They finally joined in the free-for-all, cutting their losses and dumping Tricky Dick.

Between the work done by Reagan, the Hammer, Rove and FOX, this WH is much better equipped to handle this situation.

-But- with Hammerhead out of the way, Frist ducking for cover, Cheney's CoS indicted and Rove on the ropes, things do not look good for Bushbaby. Notice the new Republican talking points:

"But Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, cautioned that people should not rush to judgment about whether Libby is guilty of breaking any laws.

" 'Out of respect for our system of justice, everyone needs to take a deep breath and not judge those involved until it has been proven they are anything other than innocent,' Hutchison said. 'Today's announcement is the middle of the process, not the end.' "

- http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/28/indictment.react...

Like the Republicans -never- "judge those involved until it has been proven they are anything other than innocent". What does she think has been pouring out of Hammerhead's mouth these days?I'm not even going to remind anyone of what happened with Clinton (much).

Obviously the old talking points about how perjury isn't really that bad were to cover Rove, not Libby. Since Rove hasn't been indicted yet, why screw around with Fitz's reputation and thus annoy him

They're throwing Libby to the wolves and hoping he's enough of a meal to satisfy them. Let's hope Fitz has a big appetite

[Canuckistanian]

76. Thanks for the link!

And welcome to DU! Good to see a fellow Canadian!

[Robert Cooper]

80. You're welcome and thanks

I've been a frequent visitor for months. Decided it was time to get wet

[JJackFlash]

42. So sad

[Dancing_Dave]

43. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

With all the official foot-dragging, perjury and obstruction of justice that went on, Fitzgerald and his Grand Jury couldn't quite get to the bottom of this in the alloted time...

Yet, by indicting Scooter Libby they DID indicate something important about the time line and scope of this conspiracy. It goes back further and higher than we have imagined. Even BEFORE Ambassador Wilson went public about the fraudulent "Niger Nuclear" documents, Cheney's office was working on ways to discredit Joe, Valerie and anyone else who might discredit the lies that led us into a futile war.

Rove's role is now rather unclear. Rove may have orchestrated the media leeks that were actually published...but CHENEY and his staff were setting the stage for this long before.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

44. Wow!! I heard this from a friend and had to DIG for info on it here!

This is bigger--better--news than Libby getting indicted!! (only because we knew he would be)

[Faygo Kid]

50. Wow. Great catch. Cheney is the target.

Watch and wait. Rove wasn't indicted because he threw over the "big fish," Dick Cheney, and spilled the beans about Cheney's illegal attempt to destroy critics of the war. Rove saved his ass, for now. But the investigation with a new grand jury will focus on Cheney. Seeya, Dick. At least your kids weren't maimed or killed in this obscene war.

[conscious]

52. URGE FITZGERALD TO EXPAND INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE 9/11

Check this out: http://www.growingtrend.com/

[tblue37]

54. My son was just arguing with me on the phone.

He listens to NPR and kept insisting that all the "really good legal experts" were saying Fitzgerald was done and had nothing more to offer. That is what the talking points are now in the corporate media.

[beltanefauve]

60. I heard it too

The legal experts were Irvin Nathan, a defense attorney at the Washington firm Arnold and Porter, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Justice Department. Joseph diGenova, a partner at D.C. law firm diGenova and Toensing, is a former United States Attorney. Joseph diGenova in particular was advocating that Fitz has nothing more to offer, and that it'll be hard for the prosecution to prove intent. (Republican!)
<www.npr.org >

[tblue37]

61. Toensing,

his wife, is a major Republican water-carreir, and so is he. They are spinning themselves dizzy, and because the corporate media puts that out there and not much else, even people on our side, like my son, end up believing it.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

64. just heard the SAME on the ABC News bi-hourly AM radio spot

Rove feels safe they said---
???
Why do they push this "Fitzgerald is done" thing?
if he's to be indicted it won't change much

[progressivebydesign]

84. NYT said "Rove escapes indictment for NOW" key word is now. n/t

[Danieljay]

83. Last night on OPB editorial hour..

they said there was no original crime and that if all they had was one person lying about a crime that didn't happen it wasn't going to go anywhere.

Hell, my thoughts are is that thats exactly what they impeached Clinton for. Difference is, we aren't talking about a lie about a blowjob, we're talking about a lie that has resulted in the deaths of thousands.

[progressivebydesign]

85. And you can't lie about a crime that didn't happen.

Clinton was charged for a civil case, big difference. There was no crime involved in a civil case, so to speak. It was a lawsuit. If there was no crime, there would be no reason to lie. Hannity was pushing that no crime, no problem meme yesterday. It's all bullshit. Only Fitzgerald knows what's what.

[tblue37]

89. That is what they did to Martha Stewart,

who was guilty of being both an "uppity woman" and a major Democratic contributor.

[usregimechange]

56. Kick

[Independent_Liberal]

57. Kick!

[Richard D]

58. Yiiiiii Frigin Haaaaaa!!!!!

(I hope)

[occuserpens]

62. Sharongate, not Watergate

Israeli PM Sharon appears to have discovered the magic of permanent Watergate. Arik is always on the brink for one reason or another, but, in the end, it all turns out OK for him and the Likud. As of now, all American developments seem to fit this model.

NR. "Fitzmas" Day: http://www.nationalreview.com/editorial/editors20051028...
For liberals, it has always been about inflicting as much damage as possible to the Bush White House, especially by taking out through indictment its most central player in the person of Karl Rove. That has not happened. Nor has special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald alleged a conspiracy at the top levels of the Bush administration to out a CIA agent. What he instead charges in his five-count indictment is that Vice President Dick Cheney s chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, lied to investigators about conversations with three reporters. This long-hyped, two-year investigation appears to come down, in other words, to one man's alleged dishonesty when investigators came knocking. This is not Watergate or Iran-Contra, but neither is it a trifle.

[beltanefauve]

63. WTF???

"Fitzgerald's indictment is not a Ronnie Earle-style partisan production, held together with scotch tape and malicious intentions. "
Can these Conservatards get any loonier?

[Canuckistanian]

77. Geez, they create their own version of reality, don't they?

They spin their little web of lies, then quote them later as accepted "fact". Amazing.

[occuserpens]

81. yupp

[EuroObserver]

65. Here's the relevant quote from the Fitzgerald

News Conference (NYT Transcript): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

<snip>

{(1st) QUESTION}: Mr. Fitzgerald, this began as a leak investigation but no one is charged with any leaking. Is your investigation finished? Is this another leak investigation that doesn't lead to a charge of leaking?

FITZGERALD: Let me answer the two questions you asked in one.

OK, is the investigation finished? It's not over, but I'll tell you this: Very rarely do you bring a charge in a case that's going to be tried and would you ever end a grand jury investigation.

I can tell you, the substantial bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded.

This grand jury's term has expired by statute; it could not be extended. But it's in ordinary course to keep a grand jury open to consider other matters, and that's what we will be doing.

</snip>

[Robert Cooper]

69. He has to downplay this

Fitz can't just come out and say 'we're sniffing Rove's trail and gunning for Bush and Cheney'. He'd be tipping his hand, which he's managed to avoid till now.

Now that he's got Libby on the hook Fitz has some real bait to catch the bigger fish. Notice how he keeps trading up: Miller -> Libby -> ?*?

The question to ask is whether Fitz would believe Libby went rogue over Wilson.

As if

Once you make that connection, it looks a lot more like Fitz is trying to lure in the bigger fish than trying to prove Libby obstructed justice.

If you're pursuing a criminal conspiracy you don't start by charging the head honchos, you start by turning the small fry, who turn in the medium fry, who know where the bodies are buried so you can nail the sharks. He turned Miller. He'll try to turn Libby.

The question to be answered is whether Libby is an Ollie North or a John Dean?

And if (and when) this hits the Supreme Court, will Bush's two 'judges' step aside or try to influence the outcome.

[wordpix2]

87. good analysis, like the "Ollie North" v. "John Dean" analogy and

if Fritz gets Rove, you've got to wonder about which wayRove will swing, too.

[nookiemonster]

88. Great post, and I think you're spot on!

BTW, Welcome to DU!

[Robert Cooper]

90. Thanks

I'm usually boring my wife with this stuff.

Nice to share it with people who get it

[henslee]

67. April Fritz day.

[henslee]

68. This will take about a week to hit the news network here in FLA.

[UpInArms]

70. CNN report: CIA leak probe continues

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/28/leak.probe/index...

Saturday, October 29, 2005; Posted: 6:50 a.m. EDT (10:50 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The CIA leak investigation is "not over," special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said Friday after announcing charges against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.

Fitzgerald said he will be keeping the investigation "open to consider other matters." But, he said, "the substantial bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded."

Libby resigned Friday after a federal grand jury indicted him on five charges related to the leak probe: one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements. (Charges explained)

...more...

Fitzmas may be for an entire season!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

73. "the substantial bulk..."

The testimony and interviews are in. All that remains is the armtwisting.

[BamaBecky]

72. kick

[leesa]

74. Good news. I know Randi Rhodes said yesterday that was up in the air

I'm glad to see it's ongoing. I don't think they have evn begun to get at motive yet...that should be interesting.

[Canuckistanian]

75. Good news!

I was just wondering a few minutes ago when I'd hear about a new grand jury!
Hahahahahaha, what a relief!



"Breathing easier at the White House", my ass!

[lovuian]

82. Well maybe by the time Bush is out of office there might be

a whole case against him ready to be prosecuted!!!

[wordpix2]

86. listen, DU, it is up to US, the PEOPLE to make this whole

defrauding of Congress and the American people come to light by LIBBY trial, by Congressional investigation or whatever it takes. Stop being so pessimistic and start taking some matters into YOUR hands. Protest! Assemble! Petition! Write your Congresspeople! Get Dems in office in '06! Act!

[MellowOne]

91. Fitz said this very thing himself in the press conference n/t