Reply #13: Now I have to simply correct you here.

[Kagemusha]

Fitzgerald is well known to have been granted all authority of the Attorney General pursuant to his specific investigation as a special counsel appointed by Acting Attorney General James Comey (I hope I got his first name right.. it's Comey for sure, though) while Ashcroft was in the hospital with that gall bladder business. Libby challenged that authority and got nowhere. Special counsels are appointed to avoid the appearance and incidence of political interference in a legal prosecution. Pursuant to that process, Fitzgerald indeed DOES have the authority to order the seal on his own, because he has limited use of authority equal to the Attorney General so that the Attorney General - Ashcroft then, Gonzales now - doesn't have to be asked, and doesn't have to give an answer from a political hot seat where the interests of the White House and the interests of the People conflict.

So Fitzgerald doesn't need MORE authority. He already has it.