Karl Rove: Last-Minute Evidence (Fitz tells Bush Lawyer Rove off hook)

[DemsUnited]

Newsweek, Nov. 7, 2005 issue -

Nov. 7, 2005 issue - Special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's decision not to indict deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove in the CIA leak case followed a flurry of last-minute negotiations between the prosecutor and Rove's defense lawyer, Robert Luskin. On Tuesday afternoon, Fitzgerald and the chief FBI agent on the case, Jack Eckenrode, visited the offices of the D.C. law firm where Luskin works to meet with the defense lawyer. Two sources close to Rove who asked not to be identified because the probe is ongoing said Luskin presented evidence that gave the prosecutor "pause." One small item was a July 11, 2003, e-mail Rove sent to former press aide Adam Levine saying Levine could come up to his office to discuss a personnel issue. The e-mail was at 11:17 a.m., minutes after Rove had gotten off the phone with Matt Cooper—the same conversation (in which White House critic Joe Wilson's wife's work for the CIA was discussed) that Rove originally failed to disclose to the grand jury. Levine, with whom Rove often discussed his talks with reporters, did immediately go up to see Rove. But as Levine told the FBI last week, Rove never said anything about Cooper. The Levine talk was arguably helpful to one of Luskin's arguments: that, as a senior White House official, Rove dealt with a wide range of matters and might not remember every conversation he has had with journalists. In any case, Fitzgerald made another visit early Friday morning—shortly before the grand jury voted to indict Dick Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby—to the office of James Sharp, President George W. Bush's own lawyer in the case, to tell him the president's closest aide would not be charged. Rove remains in some jeopardy, but the consensus view of lawyers close to the case is that he has probably dodged the bullet.

<snip>

Believe this last bit means Fitz told Sharp that Rove wouldn't be charged LAST FRIDAY along with Libby...however, am curious as to why Fitzgerald personally went to Bush's lawyer (not Rove's lawyer) with this news. Thoughts?

Also believe that if Rove is counting on that so called new evidence to save him, he better come up with something better. So he didn't broadcast to low level Levine that he passed classified info to Coooper. I wouldn't either. But he DID dash off an email to big cheese Hadley about it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9865842/site/newsweek/

[Frustratedlady]

1. Maybe Fitz Just Wants More Time

to verify Rove's involvement? Let us hope!

[Botany]

2. ROTFLMAO

Please use that defense Mr. Luskin. The old see my client sent
an email so there fore he could not have outed Ms. Plame.

:rofl:

This whole story smacks of Karl, Creative Response Concepts,
& Karl's lawyers.

picture of Rove

[zann725]

11. That Kkkkarl had to turn to a Dem Lawyer for defense is the ultimate irony

That his attorney is a shaved head, earring-wearing, motorcycle riding guy oddly parallels Kkkarl's similar choice of those he 'holds close'...i.e. Gannon/Guckert.

Wiretapping, indeed. Hope Fitz is video-camming too.

[Tight_rope]

37. I hope Luskin turns on his ass.

[truthisfreedom]

3. obviously Fitzgerald is wiretapping rove.

he wants rove bad. and he's willing to wait.

[stepnw1f]

4. Well Then... I Guess They Have Nothing to Worry About...

Rove's off the hook right? So, what's all the blabber about on the "Tv's"?

[madrchsod]

5. jesus h christ

i just had foot surgery and now i`ll have to shovel shit standing on one foot. who are the lawyers close to the case? did the writer personally call each lawyer? is there a website where one can find "consensus lawyers" to use in ones articles? so much shit- so little time

[JanusAscending]

32. I'm with you !!

Sorry about your foot! Your post made me think of something one of the " talking heads" said this A.M. "It's really hard to tip over an OUT HOUSE"!!! I'm sure you all get my drift, because sh*t STINKS!!:hurts:

[soupkitchen]

6. The last minute evindence was probably

a horse's head he woke up to in his bed

[Darknyte7]

7. So what?!?!

This sounds a lot like a Chewbacca defense to me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbacca_Defense

In fact, why would Fitz visit James Sharp to tell him that Rove would not be charged? Sharp doesn't represent Rove. I'll tell you that it makes no sense what so ever.

Michael Isikoff is a solid reporter, but I think he's being dooped here by the spin machine.

[0007]

12. A Monkey. A Goose. A Goat.

Once upon time
a goose drank wine
A monkey spit a chewbacca
on a street car line
The street car broke
the monkey choked
and they all went to heaven
on a big fat billy goat.

[Cha]

25. issikoff always said

on tv with tom brokow that from Fitzgerald's "body language" that this was "over".

We'll see if issy and brokow know how to read Fitzgerald's "body language"?

[lonestarnot]

8. Porkie got some splain'n to some jury to do soon...

[nickgutierrez]

33. He's done some 'splain'n.

That's how he got off the hook. Who he put up there in his place, though, remains to be seen.

[lonestarnot]

38. Sorry to disappoint you but NOT... just dug himself deeper.

Just give it a couple of weeks.

[nickgutierrez]

39. You think?

Karl seems like the kind of guy that would do just about anything to save his own ass. Including throwing * himself on the fire - about the only thing I can see bringing Karl some sort of mercy.

[lonestarnot]

40. Yes... There is one little tiny piece of something missing and as soon

as Fitz snags it and he will... it's all over KKKarl.

[MellowOne]

9. You simply can't believe everything you read

It's not over until it's over....Fitz said the investigation is not finished.

[No Exit]

10. I don't trust Michael Issikof, the author of this article.

I think he's just providing an outlet for Pigboy Rove to spew his spin.

[Overseas]

21. I agree -- Issikoff has a mixed reord.

Subjet line should have read "Issikoff: ..."

[No Exit]

46. I'm proud to say

that blogger Jane Hamsher agrees with me. Here's an excerpt:

"I think it was Maureen Dowd who said that investigative reporting is not just stenography. Since when did Isikoff turn Newsweek into the fucking White House fax machine? Can he not be bothered to pick up a phone and call an impartial attorney and figure out this action on the part of Fitzgerald, if true, is totally, utterly and completely illegal?

But let's not interrupt Mikey, he's on quite a roll:
'Rove remains in some jeopardy, but the consensus view of lawyers close to the case is that he has probably dodged the bullet.'

Consensus view of who? Luskin and his team of lawyers? The same people who were out spinning their guts on Thursday night, saying Rove was still on the hook, only to have their asses handed to them on Friday when Fitzgerald was completely inscrutable about the whole Rove question? Would Isikoff like to say what has happened between now and then to change their opinion of the situation? Oh, I forgot, Fitzgerald went to the offices of Bush's criminal attorney and talked out of school. Doh!!"

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/

She also points out that, if Isikoff's assertion that "Fitzgerald visited the president's lawyer Friday morning to tell him that Karl Rove would not be indicted", then Fitz and *'s lawyer (Sharp) have breached attorney ethics rules. Knowing Fitz as we now do, it's not likely he did any such thing. Rove's legal business is the business of Rove and his lawyer--not the business of anyone else's lawyer. It is very hard to imagine that the president's lawyer would be given inside tips on Rove's status, since that would be unfair to Rove's lawyer. (And unfairness leads to appeals, if Rove were ever to be indicted and convicted.)

[Boo Boo]

13. Issikof is tool.

Why would Fitz go to Bush's personal attorney to communicate information about an administration official to Bush? That makes no sense to me. Whether he wanted to communicate that Libby was being indicted, or that Rove was not being indicted, seems like he'd do that through an official channel---Harriet Miers, for instance. And it is rather hard to believe that Fitz doesn't know how to use a telephone.

Beats me. Does this make sense to anybody? Any lawyers out there wanna chime in? Why does Fitzgerald pay a personal visit to Bush's personal attorney?

Hey! Maybe Bush just got his target letter!! :7

:popcorn:

[joeunderdog]

14. I also question the accuracy of this report.

What is described is inconsistent with the known practices of Fitzgerald. This guy is anything but inconsistent and does not wander from protocol. He said he could not comment about future indictments, so any implication whatsoever about Rove being off the hook in the future is aimless speculation.

[aquart]

23. Especially if Rove is Official A.

That's usually the guy with the bullseye on his back.

[Darknyte7]

15. He wouldn't...

When I first saw the story that Fitzgerald was spotted outside Sharp's offices on Josh Marshall's TPM yesterday, I speculated that Mr. Fitzgerald might be interested in speaking to Mr. Sharp's client again. Fitzgerald could want to speak to Bush for any number of reasons, but to tell him that Rove would not be indicted certainly isn't one of them.

They're spinning themselves to death.

btw - I am an attorney...

[Gregorian]

16. Roll over Rover, let Fitzy take over.

Rove is an unctuous criminal who likes bullfighting with the truth.

I'm guessing the evidence that gave Fitzgerald pause was the voodoo doll of him full of pins on Rove's desk. :)

Suddenly lawyers are leaking. Why now, I wonder.

I thought there would be some shenanigans AFTER the press conference Fitzgerald gave.


/warning. this post was created pre-coffee.

[brentspeak]

17. DUers need to stop deluding themselves.

Fitz has already said that the investigation is pretty much over. Lawyers who are observing the events are not White House stooges.

It's a shame, but that's the way it is. Time to move on to other things - like elections and issues.

[Darknyte7]

20. I'm sorry, but that is not what Mr. Fitzgerald said...

Mr. Fitzgerald said that:

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

The resolution of this matter is far from here.

[aquart]

24. No, he said that most of the work was done.

That's what was over. And he clearly has enough to charge Libby on espionage.

This game is very much still in play.

Read a few blogs. Then read Watergate history.

It all goes way slow.

[CityDem]

30. Fitzmas was a bust

I agree. Fitz stated the bulk of his work was done and that he wants to go back to Chicago. He sent a shot across the bow of the Bush administration, but was us unprepared to sink the ship. Rove will skate and we are left with a long, drawn out trial for Scotter. As soon as Bush nominates a conservative, knuckle dragging SCOTUS nominee, the Plame investigation/trial will be old news.

[tandem5]

43. There might be an overlooked red ryder bb gun over behind the tree...

you never know.

[leQ]

18. why are we not hearing the name novak in any of this?

from day one he has escaped all responsibility pertaining to plamegate. it's amazing how his name has only been used when referring to the actual outting.

[mzmolly]

19. Bologna, there is no reason to meet with Bush's lawyer to say KR

won't be charged. This is nonsense, but it gives me hope. You see I doubted that Fitz even visited with *'s attorney, but this confirms that he did. ;)

[goforit]

41. Yes this article does give us hope.

Their trying to keep all off the trail.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

22. A Phone Call Would Have Done Fine

A phone call would have done fine if the purpose was just to give a "heads up" that Rove would not be indicted that day. Fitz is covering ground very very carefully before deciding whether to indict Rove. That includes speaking with each and every witness who was regularly speaking with Rove during the relevant time period -- INCLUDING the President of the United States.

[DearAbby]

26. Why would Fitz go to an attorney who is representing another person

to inform them that, some the other attorney's client had dodged the indictment bullet in makes no sense. Spin spin rinse and repeat.

[KittyWampus]

27. "lawyers close to the case" = ROVE'S Lawyer Trying To Disinform Us

this is Rove/Luskin trying to create the impression Rove provided Fitz with exculpatory evidence at the 11th hour. All designed to help cover the fact his fat ass is still in the White House.

It's nonsense and disingenuous for Newsweek to NOT say "Rove's Lawyer" or at least indicate WHOSE lawyer they are quoting.

That Rove called another mediawhore and DIDN'T mention Plame is supposed to have impressed Fitz go the point of not indicting Rove is laughable, at best.

And then, the notion Fitz would personally go to Bush's lawyer to inform them about ROVE not being indicted? Nutty.

[NanceGreggs]

28. This story is so full of holes ...

... you could walk right through the page it's printed on a thousand times and not get a paper cut. :rofl:

[daleo]

29. This is lame

It is like saying you can't remember event A at work, because you had to move on to event B. That is what working is all about. It would be a general purpose excuse for anything.

This is either an excuse to:
- let Rove off the hook, and limit this scandal.
- let Rove dangle, and continue investigating, with him knowing he could be indicted at any time.

I hope it is the latter, but I have seen the power structure close ranks enough times that I can't dismiss the former.

[WhiteTara]

31. sounds like speculation to me.

I just don't think that Fitz would tip his hand so early in the game. He didn't say that at the press conference, indeed he said that he was continuing his investigation. I'm betting on Fitz until he lets me down.

[Duer 157099]

34. Maybe I've been living in upside-down world too long, but...

...my interpretation of those events are completely opposite to what is concluded in this report.

The fact that Rove DID NOT discuss his conversation with Cooper with Levine ADDS to the claim that Rove knew that what he had done was WRONG!!! After all, Rove ALWAYS told Levine about his contact with the press, right? WHY wouldn't he this time???

This is why Fitz held off on indicting him! Fitz was going to go for obstruction of justice, and NOW he knows he has a better chance at proving intent!!

Someone please explain why I'm wrong?

[jaysunb]

35. Could it be there are sealed

indictments already for others ??? or would that be public information?

[wordpix]

36. maybe Levine was lying

[AX10]

42. MSM spin to protect Rove.

[lovuian]

44. Heres what was Not said!!! The investigation isn't over!!!

if all this was about Scooter then it would be over and Fitzgerald did his job but alas its an ongoing investigation for some reason???

hmmm!!!

[Garbo 2004]

45. So because Rove didn't tell Levine that he spoke with Cooper and may have

broken the law) that means he didn't commit a lie of omission when he didn't tell the investigation? This is "proof?" I must be missing something here. It doesn't make any sense at all and yet big name rags are reporting it as of, but of course! Rove's off the hook!

As I recall jails are full of people who committed crimes and then failed to tell others others information that later could incriminate them.

[No Exit]

47. For a good answer to this MSNBC spin by Isikoff, please read

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/

(I'm not a shill for that blog; I'm just recommending it, specifically the entry entitled "Let's Tell Mikey, He'll Print Anything" because it is such an excellent answer to Isikoff's blatant pro-Rove SPIN.)

[shantipriya]

48. Rove

I knew it. These people are nasty and smart. I had the feeling that Rove will escape indictment somehow. I wouldn't be surprised if a deal was made with Fitzgerald!