Prosecutor Meets With Chief Judge Could Signal That Fitzgerald Is Seeking Extension

New York Sun ^ | 10-26-05 | JOSH GERSTEIN

[inpajamas]

WASHINGTON—The federal prosecutor investigating the alleged involvement of White House officials in the leak of a CIA operative's identity spent most of the lunch hour today meeting with the chief judge of the federal district court in the nation's capital, Judge Thomas Hogan.

As reporters massed outside an elevator lobby leading to the grand jury rooms, the special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, apparently slipped out a back exit to conduct the noontime meeting with Judge Hogan.

Mr. Fitzgerald declined to comment as he and a colleague emerged from the judge's chambers just before 1 p.m.

The prosecutor's visit to the chief judge could signal that Mr. Fitzgerald is seeking to extend the term of the grand jury that has been investigating the leak. Judge Hogan would need to approve any extension to the grand jury's term, which was set to expire on Friday....

[sinkspur]

That's a pretty bold statement for something based entirely upon speculation. What is your interest in never knowing what the facts are?

Come on. He's had two years to gather this information and now, at the 11th hour, he may want to extend the Grand Jury?

He's got nothing except some manufactured charges with no underlying crime.

Fitz is trying to justify all the money he's poured down this rat hole.

[Enchante]

Sounds like the usual MSM b.s.

Fitzgerald could just as easily be meeting with the judge for a final review before shutting down the whole thing, or to talk about handling indictments, or to ask for an extension, or to say "what a pant-load the MSM has been on this case, do you think we should shut it down now and drive the MSM crazy, or keep it going another year and give them more chances to fabricate stories?"

I've seen lots of attempted spin in the past week, but nothing of real facts that indicate anything about what is going to happen next.

[Frank_Discussion]

LOL!

[popdonnelly]

The fact that the prosecutorial staff stayed in the Grand Jury room for an hour after the GJ adjourned suggests a "What do we do next?" conference. The "what we do next" was apparently talk to the Chief Judge. The "what happens next?" - who knows?

[vin-one]

I guess the press never thought about that, Hell two co-workers, getting together around 12:00 and meeting for an hour, they must be up to something.....

[RexBeach]

That is a crackerjack premise! Vince Flynn, look out!

[mpreston]

Exactly. Taking this one more step, it would seem that the Rove/Libby avenue would be relatively short but the Wilson/CIA avenue would require a new grand jury that would use the the first grand jury's indictments as leverage.

[Sacajaweau]

The conversation was probably more like:

Are you totally satisfied with your report? "Yes".

Do you feel that an extension is necessary for whatever reason?

"No".

Then have one on me!!

[lugsoul]

That whopping $700k? Sure.

Are you on the payroll now?

I'll touch base with you on your comments here tomorrow. Seems odd that you'd go that far out on a limb based on a presumption that you don't know is true.

Have you considered that the meeting had nothing to do with extending the GJ?

[PAR35]

Maybe brownbagging their lunches and having a good laugh at the press outside ?

That would be my first guess.

[roses of sharon]

Bingo, and his leaking buds in the MSM could give him even more glowing coverage if he extends.

Great deal!

[jennyjenny]

Why? Because the investigation is moving on the the real meat - Miller, Plame, Wilson and the CIA. THAT will take time.

That makes more sense than anything else at this point. I guess we'll have to wait until the leak investigators leak more information to us.

[Mike Darancette]

Whether a request for an extension is a bad or good thing, I cannot say. But it sure would show the MSM's feeding frenzy about imminent indictments is way off the mark.

[blau993]

Chief Judge Hogan is a Reagan appointee and is a smart, fair, tough, no-nonsense judge. If Fitzgerald is grandstanding or playing games, he will not find Tom Hogan very receptive.

[Sacajaweau]

Valerie worked for a large organization for MANY years. To say that no one knew about her working at the CIA is absurd.

[Homer1]

with the expansion of the investigation to include the forged documents, I can see an extension making sense...

[Semper Paratus]

It's beginning to sound like "Don't kill the job!"

[Mike Darancette]

It is possible that Mr. Fitzgerald's visit was to discuss how court personnel would cope with the indictment and arraignment of high-profile White House officials.

Ex parte meetings with the judge for other than procedural matters would not be allowed. I don't think Fitzgerald CAN run indictments by the judge.

[Timeout]

I wish we had the video of Andrea Mitchell VERY early in this whole thing. She was on Hardball and told Chris: "Yes, I knew she was CIA. It was well known in certain circles".

I still think Andrea was Russert's source.

[conservativepoet]

"Whether a request for an extension is a bad or good thing, I cannot say. But it sure would show the MSM's feeding frenzy about imminent indictments is way off the mark."

I think this is the best assessment yet.