CNN is more pathetic than UPI...
Rove not indicted, still under investigation
Friday, October 28, 2005; Posted: 11:43 a.m. EDT (15:43 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove escaped indictment in the CIA leak case Friday but remained under investigation.
Rove's lawyer said he was told by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's office that investigators had "made no decision about whether or not to bring charges" and would continue their probe into Rove's conduct. Rove is President Bush's closest adviser.
The White House did expect an indictment charging I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, with false statements in the probe.
In grand jruy testimony, Rove and Libby discussed their contacts with reporters about an undercover CIA officer in the days before her identity was published.
Rove told grand jurors it was possible he first heard in the White House that Valerie Plame, wife of Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, worked for the CIA from Libby's recounting of a conversation with a journalist, according to people familiar with his testimony.
They said Rove testified that his discussions with Libby before Plame's CIA cover was blown were limited to information reporters had passed to them. Some evidence prosecutors have gathered conflicts with Libby's account.
Fitzgerald must determine whether the contacts between the two men concerning Plame's CIA work were part of an effort to undercut her husband's criticism of the Iraq war or simply the trading of information and rumors that typically occurs inside the White House.
Federal law prohibits government officials from knowingly disclosing the identity of intelligence operatives.
People familiar with the testimony and evidence said that:
During one of his grand jury appearances, Rove was shown testimony from Libby suggesting the two had discussed with each other information they had gotten about Wilson's wife from reporters in early July 2003.
Rove responded that Libby's testimony was consistent with his general recollection that he had first learned Wilson's wife worked for the CIA from reporters or government officials who had talked with reporters.
Rove testified that he never intended any of his comments to reporters about Wilson's wife to serve as confirmation of Plame's identity. Rove "has always clearly left open that he first heard this information from Libby," said one person directly familiar with Rove's grand jury testimony.
That person said Rove testified he believes he heard general information about Wilson's wife on two occasions before he talked with reporters in July 2003 and then learned her name from syndicated columnist Robert Novak.
Rove testified he probably first heard of Wilson's wife in a casual social setting outside the White House in the spring of 2003 but could not remember who provided the information.
This is just ridiculous.
Either he has it or he doesn't.
If Rove is giving him last minute stuff, I can only assume that Fitzgerald had nothing and switched to another tact at the last minute to try to pin something on him.
God, I hope we aren't getting snookered and are letting our guard down too soon.
I did not even know UPI was still in business. Then about a week ago I noticed they were all over Plamegate...with articles negative to the WH.