What "gave Fitz pause" re: Rove indictment?

[Jackpine Radical]

The common theory seems to be that Rove showed up with some last-minute witnesses that cast doubt, if not on his guilt, then at least his convictability.

But there is another option. Rove may have offered up something or someone that Fitz wants--and may have brought some supporting witnesses with him.

In either case, Fitz would surely need more time to integrate the new twist into his indictment plans--hence no indictment for Rove at this time.

[Carni]

1. It's probably more Cheney people (or Cheney)

I have read for months that the Cheney camp and the Rove camp have been at odds and your theory makes a lot of sense.

Unfortunately I don't think Rove is going anywhere although I think there will be future indictments of others.

[dogman]

11. My hope is Cheney.

If Rove gave info on Cheney and Fitz can get Cheney sworn for Libby's trial, Cheney could step into a perjury trap.

[shenmue]

2. I'm guessing...

there may be more things to charge him with than just this case. This would make it more complicated and necessitate another g.j. to handle it. That could be why it's taking longer.

That's what I'm hoping.

:think:

[babylonsister]

It was suggested last night that his lawyer might have

told Fitz that, if Rove is indicted, when the case goes to trial, said lawyer could prove Rove's memory was sketchy at times. :eyes: I don't buy that for a second, but that's someone's theory.

[JuniperLea]

4. if he's that bad off

he needs to resign!

[pacalo]

6. Yes, I heard that, too -- think it was on Countdown?

[Justice]

13. yes, who said that - incredibly stupid comment

[JuniperLea]

3. bargaining

i think rove is plea bargaining. it's known that fitz has offered deals. wasn't there something about "new evidence" from rove's lawyer? i'd laugh to tears if he's arrogant enough to pass a load of shite, further obstructing justice.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. I'd laugh even more if he's scared enough to offer up the real goods

on Shrub, Cheney & Bolton.

[JuniperLea]

12. That would be hysterically funny!

You are right. The schoolyard bully becomes a sniveling snitch! Love it!

[Jersey Devil]

5. As a prosecutor his "duty" is to see that "justice is done", not

just to convict people. Therefore, when someone presents evidence they say is exculpatory (shows their innocence) he must take care to consider it fairly just like he would consider evidence of guilt and to present all exculpatory evidence to the grand jury as well. It is possible that he may be looking to sift through the evidence or find new evidence that picks apart whatever exculpatory evidence has been presented by Rove. If he can, he will then indict.

And we know that to Fitz, "duty" is a serious thing. He will therefore go to great lengths to assure everyone that he will treat all those accused in this case fairly and not rush to judgment. It protects his case, if he brings an indictment, and himself personally from criticism as being an overzealous prosecutor.

Another possibility is that he really does not have "pause" due to a lack of evidence, but due to a wait and see attitude concerning some offer by Rove's lawyer for cooperation on his part.

[sendero]

14. Yes..

.... I'm a lot more interested in seeing justice done than in indicting person A or person B who we think is guilty.

I have no reason to distrust Fitzgerald and I think he's going to do everything he can to see justice done.

[flyarm]

16. I AGREE WITH YOU BUT ONE THING REALLY BOTHERING ME

was when rove was getting in his car laughingly..and saying he was going to have a good weekend..he seemed alwfully damn smug..like..the kid who traded away crap for a 50,000$ baseball card with the dumb kid down the street!

i watched it yesterday several times..over and over..and he sure didn't look like a guy with introspection, or a fear for anything...

he looked like he pulled off the greatest feat and succeeded!

anyone else watch that?? and his body language was cool calm and collected...

that just hit me in the gut..like he knows...he knows he got away with it!!

fly

[Jersey Devil]

17. Bravado was all that was

The same thing that made Delay grin like a Cheshire Cat for his mugshot.

They obviously believe that portraying an air of supreme confidence will influence the public (and potential jurors) in their favor.

[tmooses]

8. I'm not sure which of those options are correct, but I do believe that the

investigation into Rove's role is far from over. Fitzgerald seems like a thorough prosecutor and would not make a case without all his t's crossed. With a new grand jury he has time to pursue his case at his own schedule and not be rushed. With the speculation that Rove is the source for Novak's leak, it either shows that Novak is an out and out liar (he said something to the effect that his source was no partisan hack) or it maybe somebody else.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Maybe Rove "is no partisan hack" in Novak's eyes.

What would Novak know about partisan hacks? He's been one himself since Poppy fired Rove for playing with him back in about 1988.

[tmooses]

10. That could be Novak's perspective (or lack of it), but when I step back

and look at the time when all this was going down-the RW had everything going for it (including a compliant media, popular support, lack of any coherent opposition from the Dems, etc.) and felt whatever lies they could tell to smear anybody or for whatever reason would not be challented. That's what Fitzgerald has found-a sea of lies upon lies to cover up the original lies about the war's rationale.

[catnhatnh]

15. It wasn't exculpatory evidence.....

...and therefore I posit that Rove offered to sing like a canary.Since the actions under investigation are several years old and Karl testified 4 times there CAN be no "new" exculpatory evidence and the deliberate holding of clear exculpatory evidence till days before indictments are to be announced could itself be considered obstruction of justice....ie:playing with the prosecutors head for 2 years in order to keep him occupied with tangental nonsense.Nope...Get out your pitch pipes,the Big Bird is about to sing!

[johnnydrama]

18. better liar

The thing is, Rove was a better liar.

It was dumb for Libby to give totally different information than the truth.

Libby said Russert told him about Plame, which was an easily catchable lie.

It seems Rove didn't do that, he "forgot" things, and didn't offer up things that he should have.

That's a little harder to prove as a lie.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Begging on the part of Rove and Rove's attorneys...a "please, we'll

tell you everything we know if you'll just hold off." I have a feeling this is going to become a Bush team v. Cheney team faceoff.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. It certainly feels like that.

BUT...OK-say Rove finks out the cheney people--that should just provoke they Cheneyites to retaliate against the Bush/Rove camp, so if that particular game gets going, the real winners will be the people of the world.

[thinkingwoman]

21. It's option number 2

Option number 1 is spin by Rove's lawyer.

Rove has offered something that Fitz might accept IF it checks out and is corroborated. So Fitz is in a holding pattern, a pause, while his investigators investigate and his lawyers lawyer ;-) . Give it a week or two (maybe a month) and we'll see.

Also, and this is a TOTAL hunch, I think Fitz has an indictment in hand from the expired grand jury and just hasn't handed it up yet. (ATTN DU lawyers: if this is legally impossible please correct me). I think he'll file it away if Rove's new info leads him to a bigger fish, and indict Rove later if it doesn't.

[Straight Shooter]

22. Rove offered up Cheney because bush is p*ssed at Cheney.

Anyone notice that lately bush and cheney haven't exactly been buddy-buddy with one another? They've kept their distance and have not been heaping on the praise about each other's qualities. bush may be chafing under the weight of Cheney's power. bush wants the illusion of being in charge, and that illusion is clearly slipping away.

bush is a paranoid little weasel. Rove is his lieutenant. I can make presumptions from those facts, but I'll rely on Fitzgerald to connect all the dots, some of which we aren't even privy to see at this point.