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Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual

By Jeralyn, Section Valerie Plame Leak Case
Posted on Wed May 24, 2006 at 11:21:02 AM EST
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Karl Rove is going about business as usual. He met with the Republican rank and file today about immigration. This doesn't sound like a man who fears an imminent indictment, although, even if he did, what choice would he have but to carry on his regular duties?

The media also seems to be letting up on the attacks on Jason Leopold. Keith Olbermann on Countdown last night noted (as I did yesterday morning) that Jason Leopold beat the the New York Daily News by two months in reporting about Robert Grenier's connection to the Scooter Libby case. Jason's article was written March 18, the day after Libby's lawyers revealed it in a pleading.

Keith said:

Internet reporting is not yet an accepted form of journalism, nor is it yet an oxymoron. So the following two developments could be unconnected. More than a week ago, a Web-based writer reported of the imminent indictment of Karl Rove in Plamegate. Obviously that has not happened.

But more than two months ago, the same writer reported that Scooter Libby had discussed Valerie Plame in June 2003 with two CIA officials, including the man the agency would fire as its chief counterterrorism officer. Our fifth story on the COUNTDOWN, today's "New York Daily News" reported that Scooter Libby had discussed Valerie Plame in June 2003 with two CIA officials, including the man the agency would fire as its chief counterterrorism officer.

As to the Daily News article, one has to wonder why they reported two month old news that had previously been reported by Jason. Is the paper spearheading the rehabilitation of Jason Leopold?

Also, check out the difference in the description of Jason's career between Howard Kurtz's WaPo columns Monday and Tuesday. In Monday's column, Kurtz brought up all the previously reported details of Jason's checkered past. In Tuesday's column, he is described far more favorably.

Now Truthout has backed off, at least partially, from the story by reporter Jason Leopold, who has had some credibility problems in the past (as he acknowledges in a new book) but has also worked for such news outlets as the L.A. Times and Dow Jones.

One more item on David Schuster's report Monday that Rove's lawyers say an Indictment could come at any time. Rove's lawyer Bob Luskin has told me, "Schuster has been reporting on the 'Rove legal team's' views for some time without ever talking to me, which is an interesting accomplishment."

Jason was on Wisconsin Public Radio yesterday (listening link here, program 5/23m)discussing his story for 45 minutes. At the end, he says he has no regrets. He also had some excellent praise for TalkLeft's coverage of the story (about 37 minutes in). Notwithstanding my writing up Team Rove's negative attacks on his journalism and their complete denials of his article's accuracy, Jason has told me several times he believes I've been very even-handed in my reporting.

While the grand jury is meeting today, I don't know if the Plame case is on the agenda. I'm not expecting any announcements. But then again, this case has been full of surprises.

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    • Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual | 29 comments (29 topical)
    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#1)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 11:36:41 AM EST
    Rove has cold blood and can be expected to carry on as usual. If he has any humanity keeping busy is a good antidote to worrying. This is funny:
    Rove's lawyer Bob Luskin has told me, "Schuster has been reporting on the 'Rove legal team's' views for some time without ever talking to me, which is an interesting accomplishment."
    As if he doesn't spin enough. Yes Mr Luskin, you would be the last one to call for anyone who wanted to know what is going in in the case.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#2)
    by soccerdad on Wed May 24, 2006 at 11:40:59 AM EST
    Is there a possibility that Fitzgerald's bosses have deep sixed any indictment against Rove, in essence overruling Fitzgerald and telling him not to go forward?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 11:52:14 AM EST
    Shuster has been pretty accurate on the Rove story regardless of what Luskin is or isn't giving him! I agree that something is going on with Olberman and company. For days they weren't touching this with a cattle prod, but now little hints are seeping out!

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 11:54:13 AM EST
    Soccerdad, I would say the chances of that are less than zero.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 12:07:02 PM EST
    Didn't Fitz say he would make a decision within the month? Or was it "in a month?" By the way, I am new to the board and this story was what brought me here! Big fan of Jeralyn's after watching her "defense" opinions on many high profile cases! Way to go Jeralyn!

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#6)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 12:10:11 PM EST
    TL -- Any chance Fitzgerald is building on a broad conspiracy indictment that will sweep up most of the WHIG'ers? It sure sounds like he has the evidence to make the case for a broad WH conspiracy. He said as much in his recent filings, didn't he?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#7)
    by ksh on Wed May 24, 2006 at 12:13:00 PM EST
    Almost bet hedging on Olbermann's part. I saw the segment live and knew who he was talking about, although I never heard Leopold's name mentioned (maybe I missed it). Of the more establishment media, we have Edsall at WaPo and Schuster mentioning something coming soon and Olbermann alluding to it. I've moved into full metal wait and see mode...still a little eager, but resigned to the fact that Fitzgerald doesn't care about my personal need to know.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 12:22:30 PM EST
    I'm just a-waiting.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 12:24:05 PM EST
    Phoenix 6, I'd say that is a distinct possibility. He could indict seriatum and keep them sealed until he is done, using grounds that the investigation is continuing and even the high publicity factor of the case (check DiSalvo case out of 3rd circuit) or he could bring multiple indictments to the grand jury at the same time. But, according to Rove's lawyer, Fitz is still pondering what to do with Rove. Maybe he won't get indicted and others will. Too soon to tell.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 01:39:01 PM EST
    Leopold story is sad? No, what is really sad is that Bush and company have brought us to this place at all! He lied about the war, lied about WMD's, lied about leaking the name of a covert NOC, let Scotty lie to the press about Rove and Libby's involvement, and continues to let a man who at most has committed treason, and at least has lied about material facts under oath continue to work in the Whitehouse. Oh, and by the way....whatever decision is made about Rove, we, the taxpayers have paid for the investigation, are paying for the prosecution of Libby, and the continuing investigation of Rove and players to be named later. To me, that is much more of a tear jerker than Leopold's story!

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#11)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 02:11:19 PM EST
    TL: "But, according to Rove's lawyer, Fitz is still pondering what to do with Rove." Can you envision any scenarios where Rove might be cooperating with Fitzgerald absent any kind of plea agreement? Something that allows Luskin to continue to make his claims about no plea deal? Could Rove be preemptively trying to build a firewall between the Oval Office and the OVP? If Leopold is really on to something, but got the Rove indictment part wrong, any speculation on what he might be on to instead?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 02:32:40 PM EST
    There, let it out. It saves your shrink bill.
    Very good. Very, very good. Did it take you as long to think that up as it will take you to spit out your coffee when Rovie et al go down in flames? You are funny...really funny...

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 02:53:46 PM EST
    Is there any reason why Karl Rove would not be indicted.Wasn't he official A in the Libby indictment? If the grand jury didn't believe Libby"s story,why would they believe Rove's?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#14)
    by Sailor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 03:06:04 PM EST
    Nobody rational pays him attention any more.
    Step one in republican smear tactics, denigrate anyone who disagrees with you. Karl Rove outed an CIA undercover agent who was working on stopping the proliferation of WMDs for political purposes when her husband called them on their lies.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#15)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 03:16:00 PM EST
    TL: "He could indict seriatum and keep them sealed until he is done, using grounds that the investigation is continuing and even the high publicity factor of the case (check DiSalvo case out of 3rd circuit)" I'm not sure I follow the DiSalvo reference. Are you talking about the danger of prosecutorial retaliation claims by someone if Fitzgerald pushes too hard?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#16)
    by Sailor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 03:28:26 PM EST
    OK, a slight problem with the antecedents in my previous post;-) But I think the point was clear, if not ask me for clarification.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 24, 2006 at 03:43:07 PM EST
    Re: DiSalvo, Case is US v. DiSalvo, 34 F.3d 1204 (3rd Cir. 1994) It's a very long opinion, but the sealing stuff starts in headnote 10 (lexis version) Basically, two were indicted in mob case, one of them, Simone was a lawyer. Both get convicted. The codefendant, DiSalvo appeals and says the indictment was improperly sealed as to him. The indictment had been sealed not because they were flight risks, but to avoid publicity and because the investigation was ongoing. Simone had been in another trial when the indictment came down and they didn't want to announce it until his trial was over, which was expected to last four months. Simeone was told of the indictment and agreed with the decision to seal it. I'm not saying this case is similar to Rove's just that if the Government wanted the indictment sealed the court can grant the motion for any number of reasons, including the high media interest in the case and an ongoing investigation. And even though sealed, the government can request an exception to tell the defendant. It's not a D.C. case, but I thought it was interesting and worth mentioning.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#18)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 04:24:02 PM EST
    TL: "...even though sealed, the government can request an exception to tell the defendant." So Rove may indeed have been indicted, but he and Luskin could be prohibited by the court from disclosing it? That would explain, assuming TO is right, why we haven't seen an official confirmation of Leopold's story.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#19)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 04:36:52 PM EST
    Also it would explain this:
    Finally, Ash said that "there are people whose life was made inconvenient by our story," and that "not all of them are Karl Rove or people beholden to Karl Rove." Who are they? "I can't tell you any more than that," Ash said. Is one of them Leopold? "You're making my life complicated now," Ash said.
    link We know that Leopold's life got complicated by his critics but what about the legal side? Could he get into trouble for reporting on a sealed indictment?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 04:54:48 PM EST
    David Shuster on Hardball. No GJ action today and not much news but for plameaddicts it is a bit of a buzz. Raw Story via FDL who has more.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#21)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 08:14:35 PM EST
    WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney could be called to testify in the perjury case against his former chief of staff, a special prosecutor said in a court filing Wednesday.
    Oh my. via think progress

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#22)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 08:20:33 PM EST
    Squeaky: "We know that Leopold's life got complicated by his critics but what about the legal side? Could he get into trouble for reporting on a sealed indictment?" That's a good point. I wonder if it would be possible for the court to place a gag order on an individual not part of a case if that person's speaking out could endanger an ongoing investigation? Could that be the kind of complication Ash and Leopold are dealing with? I keep wondering if there is a battle going on over this between the Oval Office and the OVP. Could Rove be secretly ratting out the OVP to protect Bush and/or himself?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#23)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 08:33:01 PM EST
    Phoenix6
    Could Rove be secretly ratting out the OVP to protect Bush and/or himself?
    We'll see if Cheney goes to testify on Frlday that would surely indicate some smoke. The perpetual 9th inning with Fitz as the pitcher and homerun hitter.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#24)
    by Tom Maguire on Wed May 24, 2006 at 08:39:45 PM EST
    PACER alert - There is a new Fitzgerald filing: Vice President Dick Cheney could be called to testify in the perjury case against his former chief of staff, a special prosecutor said in a court filing Wednesday. Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald suggested Cheney would be a logical government witness because he could authenticate notes he jotted on a July 6, 2003, New York Times opinion piece by a former U.S. ambassador critical of the Iraq war.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#25)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 09:26:50 PM EST
    Squeaky: "We'll see if Cheney goes to testify on Frlday that would surely indicate some smoke." I expect Fitzgerald is talking about Cheney as a witness at trial, not as a Grand Jury witness.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Wed May 24, 2006 at 09:40:32 PM EST
    Phoenix6-oops I misread ..One can only hope that Cheney becomes a target. Surely if they take down the whole WHIG op he will be called to testify in the GJ, no?

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#27)
    by Phoenix6 on Wed May 24, 2006 at 09:58:20 PM EST
    Squeaky: Surely if they take down the whole WHIG op he will be called to testify in the GJ, no? I wouldn't expect it. As Jeralyn and others have noted before, calling Cheney as a witness, even at trial, is likely to be a last resort. It get's very complicated when you have that kind of separation-of-powers conflict. Cheney could also be Fitzgerald's primary target. Or least one of them. He wouldn't want to call the targets as witnesses because of the complications that action brings to their eventual prosecution. I don't know that Fitz is actually going after a broad conspiracy conviction, but he has said he is aware of a coordinated effort within the White House to swiftboat Joe Wilson. I believe the conspiracy exists, but I have no idea if Fitzgerald could prove such a case given all of the Executive Branch obstacles he would have to overcome. I believe it would be justice well served if he did though.

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Thu May 25, 2006 at 06:33:53 AM EST
    If Patrick Fitzgerald had in fact reached a decision not to indict, he would have announced that and he would have told Karl Rove and his attorneys. The fact that he hasn't announced it makes you believe that he might be headed towards an indictment and might be tightening up all the loose ends at this point in anticipation of presenting the indictment.
    Fmr. Fed. Prosecutor David Shertler on Hardball May 24 - via rawstory (transcript & video)

    Re: Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual (none / 0) (#29)
    by squeaky on Thu May 25, 2006 at 12:17:43 PM EST
    New Waas story on Rove and Novak. The meat:
    Rove also told the grand jury, according to sources, that in the September 29 conversation, Novak referred to a 1992 incident in which Rove had been fired from the Texas arm of President George H.W. Bush's re-election effort; Rove lost his job because the Bush campaign believed that he had been the source for a Novak column that criticized the campaign's internal workings. Rove told the grand jury that during the September 29 call, Novak said he would make sure that nothing similar would happen to Rove in the CIA-Plame leak probe. Rove has testified that he recalled Novak saying something like, "I'm not going to let that happen to you again," according to those familiar with the testimony.
    The bottom line is that it extremely difficult to prove charges of perjury and obstruction based on a private phone conversation where both are sticking to their story. Novak and Rove go way back. Neither of them would break from the cover story and no one else was there. Even if unprovable it is an indication that there is more to this than what they are admitting to. Scent for the bloodhound.

    Karl Rove Goes About Business as Usual | 29 comments (29 topical)