60 Minutes doing Rove expose --> Don Siegelman

[underpants]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

A Glimpse of Secret Rove

Sunday's episode of "60 Minutes" offers a glimpse of the secret Karl Rove.

Not the public Rove -- the jovial number-crunching doofus who has taken to popping up on Fox News and the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and even has his own column in Newsweek.

I'm talking about the other Rove -- the dirty trickster and master of calumny who is widely assumed to have been behind the smearing of John McCain in 2000 and the Swift-Boating of John Kerry in 2004. You know, the Rove who barely avoided a federal indictment for his part in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

The one who critics believe subverted the Justice Department and spurred nakedly partisan prosecutions of Democratic officials, including former Alabama governor Don Siegelman.

Ben Evans writes for the Associated Press: " A former Republican campaign worker claims that President Bush's former top political adviser, Karl Rove, asked her to find evidence that the Democratic governor of Alabama at the time was cheating on his wife, according to an upcoming broadcast of '60 Minutes.'

"Jill Simpson, who has long alleged that Rove may have influenced the corruption prosecution of former Gov. Don Siegelman, makes the claim against Rove in a broadcast scheduled to be aired Sunday, according to a statement from CBS.

"Simpson testified to congressional investigators last year that she overheard conversations among Republicans in 2002 indicating that Rove was involved in the Justice Department's prosecution of Siegelman. She has never before said that Rove pressed her for evidence of marital infidelity in spite of testifying to congressional lawyers last year, submitting a sworn affidavit and speaking extensively with reporters.

"Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, denied the allegation."

Here's a preview from CBS News: "'Karl Rove asked you to take pictures of Siegelman?' asks Pelley.

"'Yes,' replies Simpson.

"'In a compromising, sexual position with one of his aides,' clarifies Pelley.

"'Yes, if I could,' says Simpson.

"Simpson says she found no evidence of infidelity despite months of observation. She tells Pelley that Rove, who had been a top Republican strategist in Alabama, had made requests for information from her before in her capacity as an 'opposition researcher' for Republicans running for office."

Here's a video clip. Pelley says Simpson claims "that the Siegelman prosecution was part of five-year, secret campaign to ruin the governor."

Pelley asks Simpson if she was surprised by what Rove asked her.

Simpson: "No.

Pelley: "Why not?"

Simpson: "I had had other requests for intelligence before."

Pelley: "From Karl Rove?"

Simpson: "Yes."

[LSparkle]

1. AT LAST! This is WAY more than just about Rove, though

This is at the core of the Gonzogate U.S. attorney firings scandal. As Thom Hartmann has said repeatedly, the real story is what the attorneys who DIDN'T lose their jobs did, including this bogus prosecution of Siegelman.

Let's all pray they don't pre-empt this segment AGAIN (like in favor of something on Kosovo/Serbia perhaps -- I shouldn't have even typed that).

[hootinholler]

7. This is the flip side of the Attorneygate, which is actually the result of having a Dept. of JustUs

The US Attorney firings are pretty well covered in this thread. What we are seeing in the Siegelman case is the flip side of USAs being fired for not bending to political will, but hte result of those who were willing. There are several examples that have been reported, One in Illinois, IIRC, where the appeals judge dismissed all charges before arguments. Gov. Siegelman hasn't been so fortunate.

-Hoot

[gratuitous]

2. Helpfully scheduled opposite the Oscars

Darn the luck, huh? I suppose it's a character flaw that I can't for the life of me shake the feeling that this was scheduled this way on purpose. First, so that as few people as possible would see the report. And second, so that when public attention finally gets focused on the crimes of the Bush Administration, CBS can try to vindicate itself with "See? Our flagship show did a feature on Don Siegelman! We were on top of this story all the time."

[underpants]

3. I think the Oscars come on at 8

60 Minutes comes on at 7

Well I think that there is a sizeable crowd that doesn't watch the redcarpet anyway

[King Coal]

4. If Don Siegelman isn't guilty, why can't his lawyer spring him?

[Cassandra]

5. He needs the trial transcript...

and the bushbot judge refuses to release it.

[Lugnut]

6. K&R n/t