White House CIA leak investigation still ongoing, prosecutor hints (AFP)

[Up2Late]

("...Wall Street Journal petition...," Hummmm?)

White House CIA leak investigation still ongoing, prosecutor hints

03/12/2005 02h52

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US special counsel probing a politically explosive CIA leak case signalled he was not ready to wrap up the investigation which has already toppled a top White House aide. The case, over the alleged White House outing of CIA spy Valerie Plame because her husband was a prominent critic of the US invasion of Iraq, is fuelling the controversy over the Bush administration's rationale for war against Saddam Hussein.

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby has already pleaded not guilty to five counts of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements, arising from the probe. After the charges forced Libby to resign his White House job, the lawyer for Bush's chief political aide Karl Rove said Rove has been told he is still under investigation in the two-year probe.

Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's comments contained in court papers filed Friday will fuel more speculation he may still be mulling new charges in the case. Responding to a Wall Street Journal petition to have still-secret details of his investigation released, Fitzgerald said in his court filing that some grand jury testimony must stay secret to protect the integrity of the probe.

Fitzgerald called for continued secrecy to ensure that prospective witnesses "come forward voluntarily and will testify fully and frankly, and to prevent any efforts to obstruct the investigation," he wrote. He also said some documents identifying witnesses who testified to a grand jury, who had not been identified publicly and who had not been and may never be charged, should also be kept under wraps.

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/051203005646.2ncua7ny.html>
(more at link above)