Does Fitzgerald have the authority to continue investigating

[Spinzonner]

matters tied to or revealed by the Plamegate investigation after he issues indictments ?

I presume he would need a new grand jury.

[niallmac]

1. Before people who actually know the answer get involved let me say

that it would seem to me that if to this point the Fitzmeister has uncovered a pulsating
larvae of evil that the public will demand further investigation.

[kurth]

2. Grand jury term is not a big deal

Fitzgerald's authority is fairly open-ended (and wide-ranging) as long as it's connected to the Plame case.

Ronnie Earle used two different grand juries back to back to get the job done, so the grand jury deadline is not a real big deal.

[Wordie]

4. Yes, he could impanel a new GJ, if he deemed it necessary.

[morningglory]

5. Ken Starr. E. O. M.

[adwon]

6. Starr had a different source of authority

The indepedent counsel law lapsed in 1999.

[1932]

3. Once an action starts, you can join additional claims that stem from the

same set of facts in civil cases.

I wonder if there's a criminal equivalent to that rule.

It seems that once you start investigating and discovering new facts and therefore theories of the case, it would be a waste of time to have to send them all back to a grand jury to add the new charges to the indictment.

[Trajan]

7. When a 'special counsel' brings evidence to a GJ ....

And the GJ indicts, then the case is brought before a court room and tried before a judge and jury .... as per common criminal court proceedings ....

New evidence can be brought to the courts attention, and the court will decide whether the new evidence provides justification to alter or add charges ....

The answer is: Yes .....