Newsweek: The Rove Factor?

[cynatnite]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8445696/site/newsweek/

Now the story may be about to take another turn. The e-mails surrendered by Time Inc., which are largely between Cooper and his editors, show that one of Cooper's sources was White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, according to two lawyers who asked not to be identified because they are representing witnesses sympathetic to the White House. Cooper and a Time spokeswoman declined to comment. But in an interview with NEWSWEEK, Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, confirmed that Rove had been interviewed by Cooper for the article. It is unclear, however, what passed between Cooper and Rove.

[cynatnite]

1. kicking n/t

[autorank]

2. It's called Perjury!

From the Newsweek article:

"Initially, Fitzgerald's focus was on Novak's sourcing, since Novak was the first to out Plame. But according to Luskin, Rove's lawyer, Rove spoke to Cooper three or four days before Novak's column appeared. Luskin told NEWSWEEK that Rove "never knowingly disclosed classified information" and that "he did not tell any reporter that Valerie Plame worked for the CIA." Luskin declined, however, to discuss any other details. He did say that Rove himself had testified before the grand jury "two or three times" and signed a waiver authorizing reporters to testify about their conversations with him."

Fasten your seat belts. This is the timing issue that explains why Rove is in trouble.

If Novak's column appeared BEFORE Rove was interviewed by Cooper, any discussion of Plame as a CIA agent could be blown off as discussion of the Novak column. HOWEVER, since Rove is on record as talking to Cooper prior to the Novak column, Rove is screwed. The most he can say is (a) he never said anything about Plame, (i.e., the reporter is lying or wrong) or (b) he spoke about after talking to Novak who gave him a preview of the Plame article. In other words, he could use Novak to clear him, perhaps.

Rove is screwed. If this is all correct, get ready to hear a lot of this phrase:

"In DC, it's not the crime, it's the cover up that gets you."

:rofl:

[cynatnite]

4. That's what I was thinking, too

I'm just here to enjoy the ride :evilgrin:

[magellan]

8. Explain it for the legally challenged (like me)

You say: "The most he can say is (a) he never said anything about Plame, (i.e., the reporter is lying or wrong) or (b) he spoke about after talking to Novak who gave him a preview of the Plame article. In other words, he could use Novak to clear him, perhaps."

In the case of (b), wouldn't that put Novak on the hot seat? Someone took it upon themselves to out Plame. And from his relaxed cheshire cat smiles, Novak doesn't seem worried. Is there a way for both of them to wriggle out of this? (Stupid question considering who we're talking about, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.)

I just have to laugh at Rove's assertion that he "never knowingly disclosed classified information" and that "he did not tell any reporter that Valerie Plame worked for the CIA." Yeah, like the administration never knowingly linked 9/11 to Saddam (wink-wink), and none of them ever said Iraq posed an imminent threat to the US (nudge-nudge).

[autorank]

11. Well, I challenge the legal system from time to time...

OK, look at it this way...Lets assume Rove outed Plame to Cooper BEFORE Novak wrote his column. Rove figured he'd get away with it and that he could stop any investigation into the outing if it ever happened (remember, he was on top of the world then). He also knows nobody has ever done time for a leak, just doesn't happen. So he figures, fuck it, I'll just do her in. After the leak, there's a big outrage, you know, people upset for good old patriotic reasons. Rove's still OK. He gets called to the Grand Jury and questioned by the FBI. He holds to his story, I revealed nothing, thinking all the time, Cooper won't give it up (which he didn't) and Time-Warner is in our hip pocket, they won't screw with me! Then the big oops, a special counsel, Fitzgerald is appointed who loves to indict politicians and hates to lose. Now Rove needs a story, what to say. Well, one thing might be, Novak told me and he told me before the story was written, I just passed it along to Cooper. Complicated enough yet? It gets worse. Now Bush is down in the polls, people think he's nuts, big people. Fitzgerald still wants to get the biggest scalp he can get so he's pushing on Cooper for the notes. He gets them. Rove is hoping Cooper will do the obligatory reporter 90 days or so and refuse. Cooper is ready to do that but guess what, Time Magazine says we can't give up fines, that hurts our share holders (total bull shit, btw, since the amounts would be nothing for them). Then Time gives the notes up. Reporter Cooper is still obliged to testify, which he won't but it doesn't matter.

Now, here is the legal problem for Rove. He leaked Plames name; he did it before that was public knowledge; and he lied about leaking the name. Indicting him on the act that protects CIA agents or the 'treason' charge are high hills to climb legally. There are all sorts of requirements like Rove had to know she was a special agent, etc. However, lying to the FBI and lying to a grand jury is a big crime when the lying has to do with national security (as opposed to sex, e.g., Clinton). Now Rove is having some serious problems. He tried to avoid the act that protects the identity of CIA and other security agents, which is really not the issue now. He did lie, he knows it, Fitzgerald knows it, and we now know it. He's screwed.

The side show is Novak. He's a reporter, yet he gave up information to prosecutor Fitzgerald. Unlike Cooper and Miller (NYT) he never opted for jail to protect a source. He just rolled over. But he thinks he's cool and won't face any charges. If he is trying to protect Rove by saying he gave Rove information before Cooper talked to Rove then he's possibly lying. He also has to come up with a source of the leak independent of Rove. We can assume he didn't give up Rove as the source (which is probably the truth). Fitzgerald may have information to indict Novak too.

Should be fun, buy your popcorn early before the rush.

[cynatnite]

12. Got mine :)

:popcorn:

[magellan]

13. Thanks for the great explanation, autorank!

:popcorn: Mmmm, let's get the show started!!

[emulatorloo]

3. Ok so now the story has broken in Newsweek . . .here we go!

Kick

[autorank]

6. Lawyers like Fitzgerald have dreams about cases like this...

Take down the toughest guy in the bar, out smart the richest guy on Wall Street, out con a conman...Rove is the ultimate power player, and he's supposed to be smart.

Fitzgerald needed Cooper's notes or Judith Miller's to make the case against Rove. hahahahahaha.....hope Judy does a little time before she caves and gives up her notes.

Things like this make me think that there is a God, and he/she/it has a sense of humor.

"Karl meet Bubba, your new cell mate; Bubba, Karl. You two need to get along, you'll be spending a lot of time together."

[Pithy Cherub]

5. This is turning into a Bush White House CF of epic proportions!

Does the irony get better than manipulating the dumbass media into supporting the administration's policies, thereby ensnaring the msm in the midst of the scandal, ruining credibility everywhere with the media trying desperately to get out of the Rove's spider web, while the bush spiders get confused about which web of lies was spun first...:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[understandinglife]

7. I wonder how this Newsweek story will be adjusted to deal with ...

.... Lawrence O'Donnell's revelations.



http://www.newsparkproductions.org/

WATCH IT; SPREAD IT http://www.bushflash.com/right.html

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists their cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

[bushcrab]

9. Let the media feeding frenzy begin!!

Like piranhas, please devour these criminal fascists so no one will ever want to jump into the water again.

[hedda_foil]

10. So SWEET!

In addition to everything above, this is a pretty major Isikoff article in the print version of Newsweek, which doesn't hit the newsstands or subscribers mailboxes until Tuesday ... after the 4th!
TIME has to keep up with Newsweek and do them one better. After all, they were on the inside so they'll want to do a backgrounder to fill in some gaps and show they're REALLY on the inside. And Judy, Judy, Judy, the ultimate publicity whore, will realize that there's lots of juicy publicity for her in this, and will gracefully avoid jail and start talking like a house afire and preparing to write her story of all this for megabucks(leaving out awkward things like being up to her neck in neocons and in bed with Chalabi)/

[ailsagirl]

14. egads... rove looks like senselessbrenner

They have that round, soft, overfed look of corruption about them.

:puke: