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I. Lewis Libby Indicted
I. Lewis Libby, Chief of Staff to Vice-President Richard Cheney, was charged in a five count indictment handed up shortly after noon today. Included in the indictment are two counts of making false statements, two counts of obstruction of justice, and one count of perjury. All of the charges are felonies and carry penalties of fines and jail sentences.
CORRECTION: The five counts in the indictment are as follows: one count of obstruction, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements.
Interestingly, the indictment confirmed a story earlier this week in the New York Times, and written about here yesterday, that Vice President Richard Cheney was the person who told Libby of Valerie Plame Wilson's identity.
Giving an indication of where Fitzgerald's investigation will be heading next, he (sic) included in the indictment the accusation that Libby's action endangered national security.
What's next? We will see in the coming weeks. But I don't imagine that the President can be too happy that not only has a high ranking official has been indicted, but that the federal investigation which is crippling his presidency for months now, will continue.
This is only the beginning.
UPDATE: Libby Resigns. The Vice-President has not yet commented on this story. He is busy attending fundraisers for Republican candidates in Georgia. Likely one of those candidates is Ralph Reed, who is under federal investigation for his involvement with uber-Lobbyist turned indicted criminal, Jack Abramoff.
UPDATE II: Contained in the Special Counsel's perjury charge against I. Lewis Libby, the indictment states as its two witnesses (perjury requires two confirming witnesses), Matthew Cooper and Tim Russert. For the last two years, Tim Russert has been acting as though he had no involvement in this story. Now we learn in this indictment that he not only is deeply involved, he is a material witness in the case. Clearly his bosses at NBC had to know this, and yet they still let him cover this story.
That is simply wrong. Very, very wrong.
UPDATE III: I have been trying to get the indictment link and the Department of Justice link keeps locking up my computer. I recommend using this link to Think Progress to read the indictment.
Is the investigation completed???? Does anyone know? I'm happy enough about Libby, but I want Rove indicted too.
Will Fitzgerald say later on today that the investigation will continue with a new grand jury.
Damn. I want to know.
And, to top it all off, Cheney said in public that he didn't know who Wilson was. I want that posted on every single news show this evening. Cheney lied. Period.
"On the first day of Fitzmas...my truelove gave to me...One Scooter Libby, and 5 indictments including perjury!" :)
waiting for the second verse now...
now it starts to get interesting....So Rove talked his way out of an indictment so far? That's interesting. Wonder what will play in scooter's mind as he now deals in the reality of loyalty to criminals....it's a whole new thought process now....
from firedoglake: 1:08 pm ET: Scooter Libby has offered his resignation to Andy Card. It has been accepted by the President.
To Linda Enterkin re 01:01 PM
______
Sources: Rove Won't Be Indicted Todayhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051028/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_investigation
Karl Rove escaped indictment in the CIA leak case Friday but remained under investigation as the embattled White House braced for charges against Vice President Dick Cheney's top adviser.
Trying to put a brave face on one of the darkest days of his presidency, Bush traveled to Norfolk, Va., to deliver a speech on terrorism. "Thanks for the chance to get out of Washington," he said.
Rove's lawyer was told by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's office that investigators had not completed their probe into his conduct, said two people close to Rove, speaking only on condition of anonymity because of grand jury secrecy. Rove is deputy White House chief of staff and Bush's closest adviser.
Fitzgerald scheduled a 2 p.m. EDT news conference in Washington, along with an FBI investigator in the case...
From Senator Kennedy via Atrios:
Sen. Kennedy reminds us what this is about:
Today is an ominous day for the country, signifying a new low since Watergate in terms of openness and honesty in our government. This is far more than an indictment of an individual. In effect it’s an indictment of the vicious and devious tactics used by the Administration to justify a war we never should have fought. It’s an indictment of the lengths Administration officials were willing to go to cover up their failed intelligence, their distortion on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and their serious blunders on the war. It is an indictment of their vindictive efforts to discredit anyone who challenge their misrepresentations.
The American people know the high cost of this misguided war – 2,000 U.S. soldiers dead, more than 15,000 wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent with no end in sight, and a continuing shameful effort by the White House to silence those who try to tell the truth about the war. Dissent is the ultimate form of patriotism, and it’s time we return to having an honest discourse in this country about changing direction and paying attention to the needs of the American people.
The President should take this opportunity to do everything he can to heal the country by not interfering with the prosecution of this case or the continuing investigation, and by cleaning house at the White House to immunize the country against any further corruption and dishonesty. As the President promised, anyone still in the White House who had anything to do with this scandalous plot or the cover-up should be dismissed immediately, whether or not they have been indicted. Something has to give — America can’t stand three more years of this failed Bush presidency.
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_10_23_atrios_archive.html#113051933835120558
Ok, instead of a tinfoil hat, I"m going to wear a dunce's cap..
1) Will someone please expain to me why Robert Novack wasn't indicted? For that matter please explain why the question isn't even being asked.
2) Before the drinking and merriment begins, remember an indictment doesn't a conviction grant.
I heard a lot of talking on neocon radio yesterday about how the law doesn't apply to Ms. Plame. Something to do with how long she had been in the US, vs doing actual undercover work. Sounded to me like they were vetting a case.
3) I should know this, but I don't. Did Chency appear before the Grand Jury? and if not why not?
Gee, the day we've all been waithing for.. and there are still more questions than answers.
fitzgerald on cnn and cspan2 now
I forgot how to get on IRC. all I get is list of smilies
Streaming CSPAN 2
realplayer
http://play.rbn.com/?url=cspan/g2cspan/live/cspan2-g2.rm&proto=rtsp
here's the link aimzzz
http://www.democracycellproject.net/chat/index.php
for the java client
Thanks dwahzon
when I insert nick & click Enter, all I get is a list of smilies
aimzzz...it is possible...if you are using sun java...that an update may have broken your java client...if this is the case...you can uninstall sun java (use add and remove programs) then go to http://www.pcdocsplace.com and grab the MS Java listed there...it comes in 2 parts, the install, and the updates...apply both and then try to connect to irc again...let us know if this helps you :) doc
pcdoc - how can I get on with mIRC?
It's ready for action, but I can't remember-- it's been too long (blush)
CNN has a 3 way split screen...
Fitzgerald, Bush and Cheney all speaking live right now...
but we're hearing Fitzgerald and he's impressive. A real straight shooter, explains the process very well for non-legal types.
new thread
diane I won't drink to anything til I see Rove and Delay indicted and dragged off in leg irons to a federal pen. I'm not rejoicing over this.
pcdoc-- aimzz at earthlink.net