Fitzgerald says Rove was trying to fire him during CIA leak probe

[MiaCulpa]

Source: Raw Story - by Firedoglake's Marcy Wheeler

In a supplement to his responses to the House Judiciary Committee, Patrick Fitzgerald confirms what we've always suspected: Karl Rove was trying to have Patrick Fitzgerald fired while Fitzgerald was still investigating Rove for his role in leaking Valerie Wilson's identity--and the timing lines up perfectly with the Administration's efforts to fire a bunch of US Attorneys.

Remember back in June, when Fitzgerald publicly suggested he had more details to share with Congress about Rove's efforts to get him fired?

"If I owe a response , I owe it to Congress, first," Fitzgerald said when asked about all this after the verdict.

Well, it turns out Fitzgerald did share those details with Congress. And those details make it clear that Fitzgerald learned Rove was trying to fire him while Fitzgerald was still actively investigating Rove's role in the leak of Valerie Wilson's identity...


Entire article at the link.

Read more: http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Fitzgerald_says_Rove_was_trying_to_0717.html

---

Marcy was kind enough to allow us to repost her article as it's lighting up the hamsters at Firedoglake so much that the internets wouldn't let us through!

-Diane

[babylonsister]

1. Whoa. No guilt there. nt

[mikelgb]

2. teh mEGAT0n1!

[Faygo Kid]

3. Remember Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre? The media cared then.

Now, Karl Rove can rape a goat on live TV, and it doesn't matter. They fear him. They are cowards.

[rateyes]

4. OK, Conyers, Waxman, Pelosi, etc.....

The ball is in your court. What the fuck are you going to do about this? Good gawd almighty, it's time to find your spines and put this prick in prison.

What's it going to take to get the Democratic Leadership off of their collective asses and DO THEIR FUCKING JOBS!!!!!!!!???????

[ooglymoogly]

68. Congress did not have Fitzgeralds back then and they don't have it now...

and they certainly do not have ours. Fitzgerald was a hero to this country and nobody but "we the activists" cared. If "we the people" had given a wooden nickel, this whole bunch would be in prison for life.

[MadMaddie]

5. So is this not a crime? Interfering with an Investigation

Executive Priveledge does not cover this.

Hey Nancy P Harry R? You listening? How much more evidence do you need?

At this point I wonder if the the * Administration came out and admitted to all of thier crimes in public would Nancy and Harry go through with Impeachment and push for prosecution?

[Botany]

9. Right now they are both writing letters

Nasty ones too.

[tblue37]

15. They HAVE admitted several of them in public. No one seems to care. n/t

[mod mom]

44. Why hasn't rove been arrested for failing to appear before congress? Arrest his sorry ass!

[BeHereNow]

70. Here mod mom- sendkarlrovetojail.com

http://www.sendkarlrovetojail.com

Great video and petition there.
Send it far and wide!

BHN

[mod mom]

72. Thank you. I've certainly written my letters. I even sent a local reporter quotes from Rep Chabot

who sits on the House Judiciary Committee:

XXXXXXX,

This article is a big hit on the blogosphere. Thought you might want to ask his office to respond:



Seven Republican Members of House Judiciary Call for Impeachment out of Duty to the Constitution

by Cheryl Biren-Wright Page 1 of 3 page(s)


-snip

Hon. Steve Chabot (OH) Phone [phone] . [phone]
Thank you. Mr. Chairman, every member of our committee recognizes that this is likely the most important vote we will ever cast, and all of us would prefer that the president's actions had not led us down this fateful path. However, we have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and we must fully accept that responsibility.

Back in 1974, Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, who served on the judiciary committee during Watergate, said that she would vote to impeach President Nixon, in part, because -- and I quote -- "the presidential cover-up is continuing even through today."

The historic record, the law, and the Constitution tell us that the charges against the president do indeed rise to the level of impeachable offenses. They constitute serious violations of criminal law and fall squarely within our Founding Fathers' definition of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Mr. Chairman, impeaching the president is an extremely serious matter. Throughout these proceedings, I've tried to keep an open mind, giving the president every opportunity to refute the facts that have been laid before our committee, but now all of the evidence is in and a decision is at hand.

It has become apparent to me that impeachment is the only remedy that adequately addresses this president's illegal and unethical acts. Allowing the president's actions to go unpunished would gravely damage the Office of the President, our judicial system and our country.


The statements above are excerpts from transcripts of the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment hearings. December 10-11, 1998. Each congressman is a current member of the House Judiciary Committee.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Seven-Republican-Members-o-by-Cheryl-Biren-Wrigh-080711-38.html

[bushmeister0]

73. That's an excellent point. Fitzgerald seems to giving Conyer's et al an out

"I should be clear that I did not understand that any putative effort to replace me as United States Attorney was related to my conduct as Special Counsel but understood instead that it was related to the investigative activities of federal agents and prosecutors conducting a corruption investigation in Illinois. "

He even underlines it!

Hello, anyone awake on Capital Hill??????

[Olney Blue]

6. How much more evidence do they need to take Rove down?

[BrotherBuzz]

7. I think Rove should testify before the House Judiciary Committee and set them straight

Rove, I double dog dare you to do it, and under oath! :rofl:

[madrchsod]

8. if anyone thinks rove is going to pay for anything he`s done

well think again. as long as nancy is in charge no one is going to do anything...

[Kaleko]

10. The dragnet is tightening.

Here, Rover, come here and tell us again how you're above the law.

[bushmeister0]

74. I'd rather he tell a Grand Jury. He can't get Gonzheimers there.

[paparush]

11. Has Rove re-entered the US?

I haven't got that tingling in the back of my neck..

[bdamomma]

48. Yes, and I would love to this thug arrested right on the set of FOX

Noise.

[Overseas]

12. If it walks like a crook, and talks like a crook... /eom!

[sellitman]

13. So what?

Our Democratic leaders were probably trying to fire him too.

[Plucketeer]

14. Infuckingcredible!

I hope his porcine ass fries in hell. :evilgrin:

"Say! The wind out of that cave smells like bacon frying! Whaddya make of that??"

"Oh, that's just Karl on a skewer. Diablo's makin' sure he's done!"

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Poor Fitzgerald. Little did he know that he would find mini-Roves in Congress.

[The Wizard]

17. Everyone connected to Bush

who has damaging info on the cartel has a get out of jail free card as long a Bush has pardon power.
If Nancy "the hosebag" Pelosi would follow the Constitution and impeach Bush and Cheney maybe Ku Klux Karl would be in the Gray Bar Hotel and License Plate Factory.

[mloutre]

50. Hmm. Interesting sub-implication there.

Can be that maybe, just maybe, one reason the relevant indictments haven't been issued yet is because they're being held til January 20 precisely so that Bush *can't* pardon Rove et al before the little shrub rides back to Crawford on a rail?

[The Blue Flower]

59. You've been reading my mind

I'll happily take criminal prosecution over impeachment and no-consequence hearings. "The wheels of justice grind slow, but exceedingly fine."

[demgurl]

61. Actually, * can not issue pardons in the case of impeachment.

If proceedings were to go forth for impeachment, no pardons may be issued to anyone related to the impeachment case. This is one more reason why impeachment proceedings need to be started.

[razors edge]

18. Rezko Pal, Rove Named In Plan To Fire Fitzgerald

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/rove.fitzgerald.plan.2.706771.html

(CBS) A government witness claims in 2004, Antoin "Tony Rezko" -- then the target of an investigation that would lead to his indictment and trial -- tried to grease the political skids to get his chief tormentor, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald fired.

Rezko discussed efforts among high-ranking Republicans, including Karl Rove, to have Chicago's U.S. attorney fired, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday.

Rove, then-White House political director, and Republican national committeeman Robert Kjellander were among those mentioned in the alleged 2004 conversations as being involved in the effort, prosecutor Carrie E. Hamilton said.

The witness, Hamilton said, is former Illinois Finance Authority executive director Ali Ata, who on Tuesday pleaded guilty to tax fraud and lying to an FBI agent about Rezko's role in getting him his state job.

The feds say Ata is prepared to testify about the scheme at the Rezko trial.

[trashcanistanista]

60. Is this the same Rezko who helped Obama get

his 2 million dollar property?

[razors edge]

63. Don't know,

but I'm guessing yes, and that the GOP knew this guy was going to be trouble for them down the line. So unlike Abramof they got out in front linking him to a Dem.

[Binka]

65. Oh Are You Concerned?

Oh my. Go fuck yourself.

[trashcanistanista]

66. No, just asking. I am very pro Obama,

no need to concern yourself with me.

On second thought, if they are linking him to O we all need to be concerned, so yes, to answer your question, I am concerned. Quit bullying people who ask legit questions. Those of us with boots on the ground need to stay informed.

[yellowcanine]

19. Sounds like obstruction of justice to me.

just sayin'.

[justinaforjustice]

20. Why No Obstruction of Justice Charges Against Rove?

If Rove took steps to get Fitzgerald fired while Fitzgerald was investigating Rove and the Plame outing, that would qualify for obstruction of justice charges.

It appeared that Fitzgerald was on the verge of indicting Rove in connection with Plame, and then suddenly Rove was claiming that Fitzgerald had written a letter saying no charges would be brought. It was very strange.

I wonder if Bush signed some kind of a pardon for Rove that he has marked as classified and not made public, exonerating Rove from Plame issues and obstruction of justice charges. Fitzgerald should be called before Conyers committee and asked why no action was taken against Rove for the attempted firing and if Bush executed some kind of an order protecting Rove.

[leveymg]

37. Another explanation is that Fitz gave Rove limited immunity in exchange for the

goods on Bush's role in the Plame outing, of which Karl had personal knowledge. Fitz was then persuaded to not pursue the President, but some sort of deal was made. Something tells me all this effectively stopped the plan to expand the war into Iran.

[awoke_in_2003]

39. Congress would never subpeona Fitz

because they know he would show up.

[Missy Vixen]

53. That letter has never been released, BTW

Actually, it's smarter for PJF to not go after Rove for trying to fire him. It looks politically motivated.

Mr. Rove has cooked his own goose. Let's hope someone has the spine to finally lower the boom after this news.

Julie

[WillyT]

21. KKK K & R !!!

:evilgrin:


:kick:

[Caretha]

22. The Congress has

bloody foot prints leading to the crimes, the weapons that were used to commit the crimes, fingerprints, eye witnesses, video & audio tapes, the motives, and they even have the fuckin' criminals confessing & bragging about their crimes. They aren't going to do shit. They haven't done shit...and let's face it, they aren't going to. America is screwed unless "we" the citizens of America do something about it. It's going to take a whole slew of us.....I mean a whole fuckin' bunch of "us" "Americans" to change it. We're going to have to stand up and say, "I've had it! Enough! You're fired and you got 10 minutes to gather your crap and get out.

And to be honest with you, IMHO that is only going to happen when people are hit so hard financially that they can't "put food on their families". Otherwise......the same crap is going to go on and on and on.

[awoke_in_2003]

40. Well, I got flamed for it before

But the Declaration of Independence gives us the authority, and the 2nd amendment of the constitution gives us the muscle, to do something about it:

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

[bushmeister0]

75. That's a quote from the Koran, or something, right? Do you like tropical weather, btw?

[Missy Vixen]

54. Caretha, absolutely

We've been screaming about this for years now. They're not listening.

Those who continue to lie and obfuscate to shelter these criminals are equally as complicit. Let's face it, they want the powers for themselves as well.

Julie

[McCamy Taylor]

23. Congress did the right thing when they decided to go after AGAG first.

The DOJ was always the weakest link in the Bush administration's criminal enterprise.

[Kingofalldems]

24. "Rove you magnificent bastard!"---

Anonymous freeper circa 2004. BTW what Rove allegedly did has got to be against the law.

[Monk06]

25. Rove needs to be indicted for obstruction of justice. Try using executive privilege against that.

Nixon did and look what happened to him.

[lonestarnot]

26. Responses in MAY! This is fucking JULY!

[whistle]

27. Is KKKarl Rove sweating yet?

[awoke_in_2003]

42. Pigs can't sweat

that is why they roll in mud :) Seriously, he ain't sweating. Nothing will come of this.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Sigh! I get this guy out of my system and you bring him up again!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Fitzgerald

[bjobotts]

29. Being a totally different matter Fitz could not indict Rove in the Plame case

[AndyTiedye]

30. Can We Make Rove dp the Frog March Yet?

[Popol Vuh]

31. Ain't Nothing Gonna Happen

They're ALL on the take and won't risk getting ratted on by their colleagues. The very few who come along and will do their duty (like Cynthia McKenney) are character assassinated in the media and marginalized. All the while with the rest of them, its a good cop, bad cop act which most of us buy hook, line and sinker.

[awoke_in_2003]

43. Spot on

"its a good cop, bad cop act which most of us buy hook, line and sinker"

[Imagevision]

32. No oversight...No charges...

[Sunnyshine]

34. Articles of Impeachment are charges. Kucinch officially read the charges on the floor of Congress.

Now we need hearings that squeeze out the cold facts and truths to have a case to send it to trial, while building a legitimate case for their indictments. Contesting his presidency as he departs office is brilliant. Keep the GOP on the offense for next 15 weeks, bring up their flowing failures as a steady reminder for why we must not allow them to retain any form of power in the executive branch, but even better if we get all branches of this sick and diseased tree. We're actually in a better position.

I think they call it the "cat-bird seat?"

It's about time, and July has been one hot month so far. I still got hope. Make them calls and demand justice.:kick:

[DFW]

33. As long as there is a corrupt Republican Attorney General, nothing will come of this

Should there be a Democratic Attorney General on Jan. 21, 2009,
I'm betting there will be massive extended vacations on the part
of Rove and many other Bushies to countries that curiously lack
extradition treaties with the United States.

[Sunnyshine]

35. Mukasey will be gone come 2009. Charges are a pending matter.

Hearings bog em' goopers down this fall, as we continue to untangle the truth and locate all the piles of pachyderm dung. It can happen concurrently- we'll still be having hearings up to Jan. If we did everything right, we should be awarded a trial under new A.G.

President Obama bringing home our soldiers from an illegal and indefinable war, started by the guy on trial for criminal behaviors.

Sounds like a good plan to me.:thumbsup: It's not like the obsructslative branch is the "Get Along Gang" right now. We gonna take care o that!

[bushmeister0]

76. They better pick countries where the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction, too!

Belarus, perhaps?

[Loudmxr]

36. A major accusation like this requires a very stern letter.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

38. You mean "with harsh language"?

You are cruel, indeed!

:rofl:

[Ganja Ninja]

41. And of course Fitz showed him who's boss by giving him immunity.

That'll learn him!

[Missy Vixen]

55. None of you have any idea who was or was not given immunity

Please go to www.firedoglake.com and read the liveblogging archives of the trial and commentary by both a defense attorney and a former federal prosecutor.

Julie

[DallasNE]

45. Fitzgerald Gets No Points In My Book

Fitzgerald was overly timid and deferential to the criminals he was investigating. He always seemed to me to be more interested in protecting his career than he was in seeing justice administered. Fitzgerald probably deserved to get fired, but not for the reason Rove wanted him fired. The Libby jury castigated Fitzgerald for both the weak charges brought against Libby and the other parties directly involved in the leak, such as Mr. Rove himself, that were not on trial. Now is not the time to praise Mr. Fitzgerald. He had a chance to make a real difference and he wasn't up to the challenge. That is the legacy he has to live with.

[Stuart G]

46. Maybe ......,but he tried to get Cheney on the stand..

Cheney was scheduled to testify, and on the day before, he said he wouldn't...Trial was ended...
Libby was found guilty.. Pardon was given..

Cheney was the fish that Fitz was trying to get on the stand...For if
....Cheney would testify, he would have to commit perjury,
then he could be tried for perjury....or better yet..proof of impeachable offense like someone else who was impeached for perjury..

[Loge23]

47. Amen to that (eom)

[pleah]

49. So, Congress has known for years that

Rove broke the law and still have done nothing? Why am I not surprised.:eyes:

K&R

[JNelson6563]

51. Shout out to a fellow MichLib poster!

:hi: :toast:

Fitzgerald is the shit, I can't believe they haven't whacked him yet.

Julie

[unpossibles]

52. well, that's cause they're all innocent!1!

just like... uh... how Scooter obstructed justice because,...um... they didn't do anything wrong.


man, it's hard to pretend to be gullible enough to be a Republican. I don't know how they manage sometimes!

[nradisic]

56. PUT HIM IN THE SLAMMER!

Rove is the lowest scum on Earth. He belongs in jail...NO, he should be hung for treason. How the fuck does this guys still walk the streets free?

[BeHereNow]

71. "How the fuck does this guys still walk the streets free?"

The congress is complicit- that's how.

And the majority of Americans have NO clue
what is happening outside of network news
and American Idol.
Nor do they WANT to know.

It really is that simple.

Sad, but there you have it.

BHN

[lovuian]

57. Now I'm really proud of Fitz he finally is coming out with more

truth ...he was threatened... the whole investigation was under attack with threats of firing

the Plame case still hasn't had its justice

Fitz better have come out with an explanation as WHY he didn't put Rove on the stand

after Scotties testimony it makes more and more sense now

Fitz wasn't free but under duress for his job

[Missy Vixen]

77. Here we go again

>Fitz better have come out with an explanation as WHY he didn't put Rove on the stand

Does it occur to any of the closet intellectuals here that he would have been CRUCIFIED if he went after Rove with this additional information? ("He's just trying to save his job"/"This is personally motivated"/bla bla bla)

He left a trail of breadcrumbs for Congress the size of baguettes. They can do it and MAKE IT STICK. Before you pillory Patrick Fitzgerald, you may want to ask yourself why Congress can seem to do nothing more than send a strongly worded letter.

Julie

[Broadslidin]

58. Shouldn't fret to much. Democrat Leader Palosi will continue to protect the Bush Family & Associates

:nuke: :patriot: :nuke:

[DailyGrind51]

62. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has never publicly criticized Bush

and was always suspiciously cozy with "W", when he was in town. Pat Fitzgerald has been a thorn in both their rectums, even though Daley is a "Democrat". In Illinois, party label means nothing, it is all about who brings in the cash and who keeps quiet about how it got here and what happens to it! :grr:

[katty]

64. No doubt that was happening--FISA pass: Spy on Dems 24/7

[Zorra]

67. Rove is a dangerous psychopathic serial criminal and should be locked up before

he can hurt any more innocent people.

[99 Percent Sure]

69. Well, obviously Turd Blossom's threat was successful since Fitzgerald

failed to pursue the case against Rove or Cheney, despite evidence of treason.

[Missy Vixen]

79. He was trying Scooter Libby for obstruction of justice and perjury

That was the scope of the case brought to court. No matter how much some here would like to believe that PJF is in bed with the neocons, it's not the case.

Furthermore, there WERE no charges without Libby's testimony. He would not flip, which makes it even more heinous that his sentence was commuted. It wasn't because he's a great guy and was wrongly prosecuted. It's because he holds the key to bringing down the entire cabal in his sweaty little palms.

Julie

[mdmc]

78. call me when the democrats get it together

:mad:

[Supersedeas]

80. and Muck Muck Mukasey is still covering for these criminals

[UTUSN]

81. Well well well, let's kick this just one more time n/t