says special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s pursuit “now suggests he
might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent’s
name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy.”
“Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of
the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed
the White House Iraq Group” which “worked on setting strategy for
selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the
March 2003 invasion.”
Josh Marshall
spells out the implications, saying it goes far beyond losing Karl Rove
to a possible indictment. It could bring down the president’s entire
Iraq policy. “If Fitzgerald has lassoed this operation into a criminal
conspiracy, the veil of protective secrecy in which the whole operation
is still shrouded will be pulled back. Depositions and sworn statements
in on-going investigations have a way of doing that. Ask Bill Clinton.
Every key person in the White House will be touched by it. And all
sorts of ugly tales could spill out.”
Meanwhile, the grand jury is set to expire on October 28, so it’s possible that charges could come as early as next week.