Tracking the Valerie Plame grand jury investigation

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There's been threads like this one about yellowcakegate, and some related fallout, while I know Elvis Telecom has been keeping an eye on this sucker for a while and has posted occasionally on it, but it's perhaps time to make this more front and center given the potential implications. Even more so than the prison abuse murk, this is the case where I'd be sensing that *something* will go down.

Why this in particular? To summarize, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is in charge of investigating who leaked Plame's name to the media -- something which very much should NOT have happened in that Plame only happened to be a covert CIA employee at the time. Fitzgerald took over after Ashcroft recused himself, itself an unusual move, but things *really* kicked into high when Bush sought outside counsel over the matter earlier this month, attracting some comment which was then swiftly set aside when conveniently for Bush Ronald Reagan decided to hog the spotlight by dying.

As Elvis T. noted over in this thread but which deserves more attention here, John Dean had things to say about this on June 4 -- if there's something core to bring out from his piece, it might be this:

Suffice it to say that whatever the meaning of Bush's decision to talk with private counsel about the Valerie Plame leak, the matter has taken a more ominous turn with Bush's action. It has only become more portentous because now Dick Cheney has also hired a lawyer for himself, suggesting both men may have known more than they let on. Clearly, the investigation is heading toward a culmination of some sort. And it should be interesting.

So where now? An article earlier today in the Post notes this:

A Washington Post reporter was questioned yesterday by the special prosecutor investigating the possibly illegal leak of a CIA employee's identity by Bush administration officials.

State Department reporter Glenn Kessler submitted to a tape-recorded interview that will be provided to a grand jury investigating the disclosure last summer of CIA employee Valerie Plame's name to columnist Robert D. Novak.

Kessler said he agreed to be interviewed about two phone conversations he had with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, at Libby's urging. At the prosecutor's request, Libby and other White House aides have signed waivers saying they agree to release reporters they have talked to from keeping confidential any disclosures about Plame.

Kessler said he told prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald that, during conversations last July 12 and July 18, Libby did not mention Plame or her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, or Wilson's CIA-sponsored trip to Niger to investigate whether Iraq tried to buy uranium there.

In October, The Post reported that "on July 12, two days before Novak's column, a Post reporter was told by an administration official that the White House had not paid attention to the former ambassador's CIA-sponsored trip to Niger because it was set up as a boondoggle by his wife, an analyst with the agency working on weapons of mass destruction."

The article said Plame's name was not mentioned and the purpose of the disclosure was to cast doubt on Wilson's report rather than reveal her identity. Novak had reported a similar account on July 14 that he said was provided him by two administration officials.

Kessler said he would not have agreed to testify if it had violated any promise of confidentiality.

Where next? Use this thread to post stories and analyses and discussion...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 June 2004 05:41 (twenty-one years ago)

so they're claiming the "we fucked up" defense? Weird.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 05:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I wonder, I'd figured it was a bombshell re: the Plame investigation that was alluded to at Talking Points Memo when Josh Marshall said he & colleagues were working on a story that should shift the tectonic plates under DC. Anyway, Wilson himself thought Libby was to blame.. but if Libby is asking reporters to give depositions testifying that he didn't mention Plame.. who did?

― daria g (daria g), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:39 (twenty-one years ago)

John Dean wrote a piece for Salon last October describing how a simple civil suit, with its discovery rules, was instrumental in bringing Nixon down, and suggests that Plame and Wilson should do the same. He glosses over who the defendant should be to make the suit the most effective — no suggestions beyond Karl Rove. The piece has stuck in my head ever since it was published — it seemed like such a good idea. Maybe they're holding that as a last resort in case the unthinkable happens in November.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 24 June 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Bush Interviewed in Gov't CIA Leak Probe
6 minutes ago

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush was interviewed by government prosecutors Thursday in connection with the federal investigation of who leaked the name of an undercover CIA operative to the news media.

The president was questioned for 70 minutes in the Oval Office by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is heading the Justice Department investigation, and members of his team.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush has hired a private attorney, Jim Sharp, a Washington trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor, and he was present for the questioning.

"The leaking of classified information is a very serious matter," McClellan said, adding that the president repeatedly has said that he wants his administration to cooperate with the investigation. "He was pleased to do his part. No one wants to get to the bottom of this matter more than the president of the United States."

McClellan noted that Bush has urged anyone with information about the case to come forward.

Vice President Dick Cheney and other top administration officials, including White House counsel Alberto Gonzales, also have been questioned in the investigation.

Investigators want to know who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA operative, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak last July. A federal grand jury in recent months has questioned numerous White House and administration officials.

Disclosure of an undercover officer's identity can be a federal crime.

Asked if Bush had answered every question, McClellan said, "The president was glad to do his part to cooperate with the investigation. The president was pleased to share whatever information he had with the officials in charge and answer their questions."

McClellan, who said he was not in the meeting, was asked if Bush had any information about who leaked Plame's name. "That's just getting into questions that are best directed to the officials in charge of the investigation. I would not read anything into that one way or the other. This is an ongoing investigation."

Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson has said he believes his wife's identity was disclosed to attack his credibility because he criticized Bush administration claims that Iraq under Saddam Hussein had tried to obtain uranium from Niger. Wilson went to Niger for the CIA to investigate the information about Iraq and he found the allegation to be highly unlikely.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm kind of worried as to how seriously Patrick Fitzgerald, a Republican, will treat this investigation.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not ready to throw Patrick Fitzgerald out with the bathwater just yet. Fitzgerald is about as relentless as prosecutors come -- he's got a sterling record -- so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until there's compelling evidence that I shouldn't. Fitzgerald already went hard after the White House in a 2002 investigation of some terror funding groups, and that was a relatively low-profile case. He's nominally a Republican, sure, but he's got a reputation for independence and from what I understand he gave Giuliani and Pataki more than a few fits when he was in New York.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Dean indicates in the article I linked above that Fitzgerald apparently is no slouch -- and that the sense of two different styles *not* meshing might actually be exactly what's needed:

Those familiar with Fitzgerald's inquiry tell me that the investigative team of attorneys is principally from his office in Chicago, and that they do not really know their way around the workings of Washington. This has resulted in an investigation that is being handled Chicago-style - not D.C.-style. That's significant because in Washington, there is more of a courtesy and protocol toward power than exists in the Windy City.

The Fitzgerald investigation has not made friends with the Washington press corps, many of whom are being subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury. Those journalists with whom I have spoken say they are not willing appeared before any grand jury to reveal their sources. So this issue is headed toward a showdown. And under existing law, a journalist cannot refuse to provide information to a grand jury.

Nor, based on the few existing precedents, can a sitting president refuse to give testimony to a grand jury. And that appears to be the broad, underlying reason Bush is talking with Washington attorney James Sharp.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

no I know of Fitzgerald's clean rep, but I think the stakes are just too high here. And I think Fitzgerald subpoenaing reporters is fucking bogus - there's no way he wasn't put up to do that. We're talking impeachable offenses that are more than just a blowjob in the Oval Office. Never thought I'd wanna see the Independent Counsel statute come back.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

As much as Fitzgerald calling reporters to testify is bogus, any other prosecutor would've done the same thing and it would've appeared suspect in the extreme if he hadn't, since so much of the case revolves around what was said in the press. It's a no-win situation for everybody involved and I don't hold Fitzgerald responsible.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, my paranoid sense (much like spidey sense, except generally useless) is tingling. Like maybe the GOP are finally gonna get back for the Pentagon Papers now that the SC's conservative or something.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

FWIW, the reporters who printed Plame's name should've known better, and their editors most definitely should've known better, so as another reporter I'm not entirely sympathetic to them. A large number of Washington reporters were given the name, and most all of them had the good judgment not to print it. If Fitzgerald is calling those who didn't print it to testify, that's a stretch. But I see nothing wrong with calling those who ran it. Now, should those who ran with it be compelled to reveal their sources under pain of long imprisonment? I don't think so. But I don't see any harm in making them squirm a little bit if it means they'll take a deep breath before the running to press with the next bit of irrelevant and potentially harmful classified information. Good reporters know the difference between getting the news and getting used.

x-post: I get paranoid about this stuff too. But at least in this case I feel like things are in good hands. For now.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

you're sure as shit I'm not sympathetic for Bob Novak. Esp. because he is the kind of guy to want NY Times v. Sullivan rescinded.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Man I saw Novak do this long rant about Sullivan on C-Span once that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's astonishing to me that he's not be relegated to the far reaches of the Moonie-verse by now.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

okay so now you're totally confirming my paranoia.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh no! Definitely not what I was shooting for. It could've been worse: Fitzgerald could've been delivering the rant.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

that be worse but this all reminds me of Ahmed Chalabi and the Iranians, ie. Novak is a duped expendable.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

That may be true in the case of Novak, and if he was the only one who got a call I'd probably think the same thing. But the fact that so many other reporters got a call mitigates (at least to a degree) the Novak-as-rube angle. But then of course whomever made the calls might have known that Novak would be the only one to run with it -- until Kessler et all fucked up the plan!

Alright now I'm freaking myself out.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Now there's talk of "explosive indictments" about to drop.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 26 June 2004 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

God damn, you guys, C-SPAN is must-see teevee today.

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 16 March 2007 17:07 (nineteen years ago)

So, um, basically, she's claiming the Cheney regime comitted high treason. Is that against the law or something?

― i, grey, Saturday, 17 March 2007 05:26 (nineteen years ago)

Is it against the law for her to claim it? Not quite yet, though Bush is probably working on a signing statement for a farm bill or something that makes it a hanging offense.

― Rock Hardy, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

Thirty months + 2 years probation for Scooter, + $250,000 fine.

― Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 15:55 (nineteen years ago)

at least he got jail time. Here comes the chorus for pardons, now.

― kingfish, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Thirty months in prison, that is.

Not sure yet if he's able to stay out pending appeal.

― Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

The judge will make a ruling this afternoon.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

He's not getting a pardon.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

He's not getting a pardon.

Why not? He only compromised national security for the good of the Republican party. Gonzalez does stuff like that all the time.

― humansuit, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

http://www.comingsoon.net/gallery/53186/Fair_Game_3.jpg

Finally got around to watching this... very good movie. Still can't believe this was 6 years ago.

― Stockhausen's Ekranoplan Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 8 March 2011 08:48 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

Movie sucked

― i put that on my sub (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 18:23 (fifteen years ago)

"you know what will add to the sense of chaos? If we added a soundtrack of screeching, ignored children for 40 minutes straight"

― i put that on my sub (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 18:24 (fifteen years ago)

six years pass...

uh https://t.co/gcvO15GeEA
— Jules N. Binoculars (@surfbordt) September 21, 2017

In case you were wondering what she is up to these days.

― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Thursday, 21 September 2017 15:41 (eight years ago)

valerie plame IS milkshake duck

― officer sonny bonds, lytton pd (mayor jingleberries), Thursday, 21 September 2017 17:26 (eight years ago)

that's not all she's up to https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/24/buy-twitter-ban-trump-valerie-plame-wilson-cia-agent

― Beret McKesson (jaymc), Thursday, 21 September 2017 17:33 (eight years ago)

Bill Krisol photo on Plame's link could be the new Wonka meme.

― Eazy, Thursday, 21 September 2017 17:56 (eight years ago)

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