Okay geniuses. What’s your theory of what’s gonna happen next?
Update [2005-10-28 18:12:29 by BooMan]: I think Susan and Catnip are wiped out and napping. This whole thing is exhausting.
Update [2005-10-28 19:48:6 by susanhu]: The cubicle people were worried about not hearing Fitzgerald. C-SPAN has the video up, in the middle of the home page. Also, C-SPAN TV will reair Fitzgerald’s press conference at 8:46pm PT. The case will be the subject of call-in shows Sat. morning.
John Edwards spoke today in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the subjects of Poverty in America, and moral leadership in America…
Read MoreWhat can I say about Patrick Fitzgerald other than “DO NOT EVER PLAY POKER WITH THAT MAN.”
The man displayed no tea leaves whatsoever. The only hint he gave about anything was that he was anxious to get home and was annoyed the investigation took two years. You can read that as an indication that he is not interested in keeping this investigation going, or you can read that as a threat that he going to really resent any further stonewalling.
I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. But Scooter Libby has about zero chance of beating this case. He is facing a possible 30 years sentence (although I doubt he would get anywhere near that).
Either Bush plans to pardon him, or Libby is almost going to HAVE to make a deal. And I don’t think agreeing to plead to lesser charges is likely to do much for him. He needs to give up Cheney to have any hope of avoiding jail.
I see a pardon coming.
Read More
Holy Shit! This guy is my new attorney hero. He is super. It seems to me like he has done a thorough investigation designed to get at the truth. He took the facts. Applied the law. Made the call. And he is serious as hell about the law of procedure (grand jury secrecy) and total fairness (I’ve indicted, I’m prepared to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt, but we will have a trial). Fucking great prosecutor.
And apolitical, or at least able to keep his politics out of it. I don’t know if it will go any farther. Maybe we will never get Rove or Cheney. Maybe this prosecution won’t challenge the case for war (he told us all here at Booman — don’t look to me for vindication, you will be disappointed — because he is looking at facts and law and doesn’t give a crap about anything else, unless whatever else turns to be facts and law implicating the case for war).
Read MoreFitz said the following (paraphrased):
He did not charge Libby for breaking the Espionage Act or the Secret Identities NOT because he did not break those laws. He didn’t charge him with those crimes for two reasons:
1) the false statements, perjury, and obstruction prevented Fitz from establishing crucial facts that he needed, to prove Libby’s intentions, knowledge, etc. that are elements of the statutes.
2) that the penalties under the 5 charges are severe enough to vindicate the violation of public trust that might have occurred if it were established that Libby violated the Espionage Act or the Secret Identities Law.
And that is true. Libby is facing a maximum charge of 30 years in prison.
Read More
