NYT: With One Filing, Prosecutor Puts Bush in Spotlight

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, April 10 — From the early days of the C.I.A. leak investigation in 2003, the Bush White House has insisted there was no effort to discredit Joseph C. Wilson IV, the man who emerged as the most damaging critic of the administration's case that Saddam Hussein was seeking to build nuclear weapons.

But now White House officials, and specifically President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, have been pitched back into the center of the nearly three-year controversy, this time because of a prosecutor's court filing in the case that asserts there was "a strong desire by many, including multiple people in the White House," to undermine Mr. Wilson.

(SNIP)

Mr. Fitzgerald's filing talks not of an effort to level with Americans but of "a plan to discredit, punish or seek revenge against Mr. Wilson." It concludes, "It is hard to conceive of what evidence there could be that would disprove the existence of White House efforts to 'punish Wilson.' "

With more filings expected from Mr. Fitzgerald, the prosecutor's work has the potential to keep the focus on Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney at a time when the president is struggling with his lowest approval ratings since he took office.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/11/washington/11leak.html?hp&ex=1144728000&en=cfd85f2bec48b42b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[napi21]

1. Yea, and wait for more! think the WH thought this might go away.

WRONG! It's going to get a whole lot worse for them before it gets better...IF it ever does!

[Zen Democrat]

2. Remember when Cheney on MTP said he hadn't even known who Joe Wilson was?

Let's play that tape again, Timmy.

[pacalo]

6. Isn't that the truth!

I just happen to be watching Joe Wilson on KO right now. I was just thinking how amazing it is that Wilson can remember the most minute details & speak about them with no hesitation. His story has never changed.

On the other hand, the WH cabal's stories change like the weather.

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. I noticed exactly the same thing. It's easier and more eloquent to speak

the truth, the antithesis of B*/Cheney.

[caledesi]

16. It's so easy to remember the truth and takes less time to tell it! nt

[Pastiche423]

3. More

I want lots more.

[Karenca]

4. Do you think

B*sh is shitting in his pants yet?

[regnaD kciN]

9. No, because...

...unless and until the Democrats can take control of at least the Senate, there will be no repercussions for him in this.

With Congress as it is currently structured, opponents of the administration wouldn't be able to even get proper hearings on the subject, let alone impeachment and conviction. And, although there's a possibility that these revelations could lead to criminal charges against King George, I'm sure the SCOTUS, led by Alito and Roberts, would declare that his actions (as Commander-in-Chief) were fully legal under the "unitary executive" doctrine. :grr:

[Karenca]

10. OH DAMN IT!!!!!!!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. I would have thought the same thing several months ago....

...but I'm beginning to think that the outer core of GOP support is beginning to back away. They know crimes when they see them, and so do their constituents.

Their corporate sponsors are also beginning to back away...they've got their obscene profits so they can fade into the background once again, as they have throughout U. S. history.

[rodeodance]

23. while Repugs are backing away-still not enough to censure (Dems either

for that matter!)

[Tellurian]

17. It's NEVER the scandal...BUT always the LIE..

that gets them...

ALWAYS!!

Best Wishes to Joe and Val..

Twin Purple Hearts.. (if such a thing exists?)

[nolabels]

20. Actually it might be okay like this for awhile

Letting the stale rotting corpse rack up an even higher stench is good for the people that are in denial and saying there is nothing wrong. The do-nothings in the rest of this country's government and political structure are making this fester even more. To twist an old tale a bit; All the kings men couldn't put humpty-dumpty back together anymore because there were just too many places he was being torn asunder

[NYC]

5. Greg Palast: Gangster Government

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041006N.shtml

...On February 10, 2004, our not-so-dumb-as-he-sounds President stated, "Listen, I know of nobody - I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing. ...And if people have got solid information, please come forward with it."

Notice Bush's cleverly crafted words. He says he can't name anyone who leaked this "classified" info - knowing full well he'd de-classified it. Far from letting Bush off the hook, it worsens the crime. For years, I worked as a government investigator and, let me tell you, Bush and Cheney withholding material information from the grand jury is a felony. Several felonies, actually: abuse of legal process, fraud, racketeering and, that old standby, obstruction of justice...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. There is an additional problem here....an even greater crime....

...Herr Busch and his cronies bypassed all of the necessary steps needed to declassify material at an high level of classification.

If the material had really been legally declassified, then why have they gone through all of the maneuvering to cover it up?

[NYC]

8. That is just one of many questions.

And Patrick Fitzgerald is smart enough to ask them. We are smart enough to ask them.

Why did they allow Libby to be convicted? Why did they leave Judith Miller in jail? If this had been declassified, why hide it?

Such interesting questions.

[regnaD kciN]

13. Correction...

Libby hasn't been "convicted" -- only indicted. Although it does appear that the maladministration, following its usual standard of one-way-only loyalty, has decided to throw him to the wolves. Hopefully, he won't be content to go alone...

[NYC]

14. Did I say convicted? Wishful thinking.

I know he has been indicted only, so far. I believe he will be convicted. I certainly hope so.

Thanks for the correction.

[caledesi]

19. Boyt NYC, your brain is on overdrive. Didn't even think of Libby

and allowing Miller to sit in jail! "The aspens are turning..."

[NYC]

26. Yes, my brain is on overdrive.

Note how unexplainable many of their actions are. My, my. :)

Aspens. I'll have to download a picture.

How about quaking aspens? I imagine many of those aspens are quaking now.

[freepotter]

25. A very important question IMHO...

is, When Disaster Monkey* "declassified" the Plame operation, did they pull in all of the agents working for her and close the front company prior to them being outed? I seem to remember a lot of hand wringing and fretting over so many agents being exposed and having to close a front company that had taken years to establish with very deep cover. It would be interesting to see the CIA files on the deactivation of the operation. Bet it doesn't exist, and I'd be willing to bet that lots of lives were put at risk so * could get his retaliation on. This entire sack-o-crap maladministration belongs in jail. :mad:

[regnaD kciN]

11. In particular...

If the material had really been legally declassified, then why have they gone through all of the maneuvering to cover it up?

...if Bush had declassified that information and authorized its release, why did he denounce the "leak" and tell the American people that they were going to find whoever was responsible?

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

24. Schumer, D-N.Y., sent a letter to Jr. asking for details.(not that he will

get a response)---but glad he sent it.

[caledesi]

18. Excellent article. Thanks NYC.

When * and the dick, Cheney met w/ Fitz, they were not under oath. But, Palast is right. If they did not tell the whole truth, it's obstruction of justice. Sweet!


I feel like it's Watergate...deja vu all over again...lol!

[NYC]

27. Timing of Watergate.

It took a while to get rolling. Nixon resigned in August of the second year of his second term.

[leftchick]

21. cheney is in deep doodoo

watch this report from David Shuster on KO's show last night. It is excellent!

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/04/10.html#a7871

[Minnesota Libra]

22. I hope they keep focus on the WH right thru November. nt