Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe

update:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=1&u=/ap/20031230/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak

Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe
2 minutes ago Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!


By LARRY MARGASAK

WASHINGTON - Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) will recuse himself from an investigation into who leaked the name of a CIA (news - web sites) operative, Justice Department (news - web sites) sources said Tuesday.



The investigation will be headed by the U.S. attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald, who will report to Ashcroft's new deputy, James Comey, the officials said. It was not immediately clear why Ashcroft made the decision.


more














Fox News

Over Leak probe

Breaking hard

Update He is stepping aside during probe investigation.

He is not stepping down.

Fox had it wrong initially. They had there Fox News Alert Ashcroft Stepping Down. Later, they clarified. Imagine Fox getting something wrong.

from Drudgereport.com
"Attorney General John Ashcroft is recusing himself from White House leaks investigation, sources say... DEVELOPING..."

that would be justice

...or has knowledge of the steps taken to try to cover up the identity of the person, or persons, responsible for the leak, he could be forced to resign at the very least.

My sense of this development is that Ashcroft is now part of the group of people being investigated as prime suspects and accomplices. I think that is the unspoken reason as to why he has recused himself. IMHO, Ashcroft would never have recused himself voluntarily.

Now? Or in Jan 2005 when Dean/Clark/Kerry/Gephardt is inaugurated? ;-)

EDIT: Ah, I see. Guess it will be Jan 2005 then!

--Peter

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/123003A.shtml

There was also a story out this week about a flurry of FBI activity around this Leak issue--they wanted to either resolve it "now or in December" because they did not want it to be an election issue. There was a "non-government" suspect who seemed to be getting lined up for the fall. Can't find that link.

Anyone else read this?

says others.

Since it seemed to have dropped off the radar screen, I wonder what prompted this? More details, please!

:P Wish he'd recuse himself from public life, but we'll take what we can get!

and I may add... we may even see the convening of a grand jury in
'04

Can we all say?

Drip, drip, drip

NOT!

Should have done this AT ONCE!

They ARE definitely hiding something.

I guess all the paper shredding/file destruction is done now.

"Now back to you, Bob."

snip

Ashcroft won't be involved in C-I-A leak probe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Washington-AP) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft won't play any
role in the investigation into who leaked the name of a C-I-A
operative.
Justice Department sources say Ashcroft is recusing himself from
the investigation. Instead, it will be headed by the U-S Attorney
in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald.
It's not clear just why Ashcroft made the decision.

snip

Here's a link, from USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-30-cia-leak_x.htm

You're joking right?

Oh, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease PLEASE let it be true!!! And, if it is, WHOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!! YIPPEE!!! AMEN HALLEJULIAH!!!!

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Reichsmarschall Ashcroft will NOT allow his Masters to be put in a bad light. No more than Reichsmarschall Himmler would have.

Attorney General John Ashcroft is recusing himself from White House leaks investigation, sources say... DEVELOPING..

what it really is about is getting him out of there for the 2004 campaign to minimalize Ashcroft as an issue. Rove strikes again.

Agent bin Laden used to do this all the time before he went on sabbatical, and it was so irritating.

:bounce:

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=1&u=/ap/20031230/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak>

:kick:

He's a bulldog, he turned IL upside down when he arrived in Chicago.

Sen. Fitzgerald basically became doomed politically for bringing U.S. Atty Fitzerald here.

That is good news. I was afraid it was the guy in the gay Irishman joke.:smoke:

Or was it the two Scots, Ben Doon and Phil McCaverty... :smoke:

Woo Hoo ! I have to call my husband and let him know Woo Hoo!

blood pressure up.
I was ready to break out the champagne. Oh well, maybe there will be an impartial investigation. Then again, just because Ashcroft won't be involved doesn't mean that the administration won't be pulling the strings from some other direction.

MzPip
:dem:

Nice one John. Why didn't you recuse yourself, oh, I don't know, WHEN IT CAME TO YOUR ATTENTION?? I guess you've done a good job of covering this administration's behind when it comes to plamegate. Now just sit back and say the investigation (which won't find anything) was impartial and that you kept your nose out of it.

Jerk.

Where's your moral compass? UYA?

They couldn't close the case without Ashcroft recusing himself.

Still it looks very interesting.

Was listening to news on drive back from Xmas trip, and thought the same thing...

AssWipe has had plenty of time to cover for the real leakers and redirect any evidence toward a fall guy.

I really trust no one in this admin.

The only hope is that Fitzgerald has the guts to help reveal the truth.

...evidence?

Remember, the CIA requested this investigation, an unusual step to say the least, and that implies that they have all the evidence they need.

Also remember that the CIA is HIGHLY pissed. No sitting president that has fallen into the CIA's literal and figurative crosshairs has ever escaped unscathed.

What about his subordinates who, like Ashcroft, owe their positions to Bush? Will they also recuse themselves? Anyone involved in the investigation who were brought to Washington w/ Ashcroft in 2001 should also recuse themselves...

CNN also confirms Ashcroft's recusement...

when they have a personal tie to the case. To me, he is admitting having something to do with this situation.

John and Karl are closely associated.

Happy New Year DU!! :party: :party: :party:

Rove ran Ashcroft's campaign.

When did this break, six months ago???!?!?

The story we all thought had gone away is BACK!!!

We still need a name.

.

treason for petty spite....

bushco in a nutshell.

and GOD would I love to see an obstruction charge related to Asscrack come out of this.

...and he's bailing so he won't be tainted by it, or because he knows he can't keep it quiet so he's gettin' out.

,...since this situation involves a criminal act, they should certainly throw Bob in the boo and swallow the keys if he fails to disclose his sources.

While that might be politically expedient, that would be absolutely horrible for journalism and the concept of anonymous sources -- seemingly the only way we get valuable, accurate information these days.

1. Novak's revealed "sources" before.
2. Several other journalists were informed, who did not run the story.
3. The idea that it is OK to reveal a clandestine operative, but NOT ok to reveal a political source is hypocrisy so bad, I am surprised even Novakula would go there. But he did. Slammer time!

He was placed as AG of Illinois by Ashcroft 10 days before September 11th. I don't know for sure but I assume he is in Karl Rove's pocket.

he was promoted out of NYC 10 days before Sept. 11.

Isn't that treason?

Reminds me of my toddler's 'My-Many-Colored-Days' book -- 'on purple days I'm sad, I groan, I walk alone'.

Yes, it should be treason.

article above. I read it, and had to go back to it, because I couldn't understand why they were saying the punishment was ultimately a felony. Did they slip that word in there on purpose in preparation for a lighter sentence? Isn't this treason? When did it become a felony charge?

Glad you enjoyed the pic.

snip from article in Yahoo: The interviews have extended beyond the White House to other government agencies. The Defense and State departments and the CIA itself also are part of the probe.


The focus, however, remains on the White House, two law enforcement officials said on condition of anonymity. While the initial, informal interviews have yielded no major breaks, the FBI is satisfied that the dozen agents assigned to the probe are making progress and have not encountered any stalling tactics, the officials said Thursday





Yeah, I bet they have not encountered any stalling tactics!

Then praytell, WTF is taking so long? It's been months and several reporters absolutely know who the leakers are!!!

http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=l&board=37138469&tid=nmiraqleakashcroftdc&sid=37138469&mid=10

Anyone who pays attention can now see what the BFEE is up to on a daily basis by just looking at Yahoo message boards. I suppose it is just a matter of time before they shut them down.

WAY too much of a stink. DU need not fear, nor Yahoo... Important People are members in both.

See, they have to keep us open, because they need to know what we think. Why?

So they can plan against it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=968426&mesg_id=968426

(note: The Pitt is in the house again!):bounce::bounce::bounce:

That the Bush administration, which Ashcroft takes orders from, does not want to call attention to the investigation. Having Ashcroft personally involved would be too newsworthy. By having a lower-level attorney take the lead, Ashcroft is trying to send the message: "nothing to see here, move along."

but like so many things with this administration, can we trust that we aren't getting the wool pulled over our eyes again?

:shrug:

"So the Plame investigation is heating up - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30842-2003Dec25.html - this is good news, although it really rankles me to be spending our tax dollars on this investigation when all they have to do is make Novak fess up.

The wheels of justice are still on our side, although they grind slowly. Remember, Watergate at first was a "second-rate burglary."

The CIA was reluctantly willing to take the fall for Rove's insistance on using known bad intel in the State of the Union address but the petty vengeance of outing Wilson's wife pissed off the wrong people. I'd bet there have been quite a few "suggestions" from spookdom to members of the Intelligence committee to not let this die. I also think Ashcroft has managed to piss off many of the career Justice department investigators. And finally, I think the decision to blow Plame's cover was discussed at the highest levels (Rove/Cheney) and some of those pissed off investigators already know that.

Running in the background during all of this was the tension (dare I say outrage? I dare) over the pipelining of raw, unevaluated field reports direct to the White House that were then cherry picked for release to the press in order to build the case for war against Iraq.

I can just imagine Tenet's reaction when he first read Novak's column- "Damn those ungrateful little pricks. Get me our contact at Justice and then let the Intel committee know we're formally requesting a criminal investigation."

Kudos to AshcroftIsInsane :)

was only appointed because the CIA pulled strings and is pissed.

first of all, I'm surprised that it's gone forward. As a resident of Illinois, my impression of Fitzgerald so far has been that he can't be bought or influenced--he's an old-fashioned bulldog prosecuter. Let's hope they let him do his job.

Patrick J. Fitzgerald

<snip>

In New York, Mr. Fitzgerald participated in the prosecution of United States v. Usama Bin Laden, et al., in which 23 defendants were charged with various offenses, including conspiracy to murder United States nationals overseas and the August 1998 bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Seven defendants are in custody in the United States; three defendants are in custody in the United Kingdom; and 13 defendants are fugitives. Four defendants went on trial in January 2001 in New York, and a jury returned guilty verdicts against all four on May 29, 2001. All four were sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 18, 2001.

Mr. Fitzgerald also participated in the trial of United States v. Omar Abdel Rahman, et al., a nine-month trial in 1995 of 12 defendants who participated in a seditious conspiracy that involved the February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a spring 1993 plot to bomb the United Nations, the FBI building in New York, and the Holland and Lincoln tunnels, as well as a conspiracy to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

He also supervised the case of United States v. Ramzi Yousef, et al., the 1996 prosecution of three defendants who participated in a conspiracy in the Philippines in late 1994 and early 1995 to detonate bombs simultaneously on 12 American airliners. In 1993, Mr. Fitzgerald participated in the six-month trial of United States v. John Gambino, et al., the prosecution of a Gambino crime family capo and his crew for narcotics trafficking, murder, racketeering, jury tampering and other charges.

<snip>


more

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/patrickjfizgerald.html

and Republican pals. This is amazing! Fitzgerald is no wimp and he doesn't seem to play politics.

. . . .to keep him from doing any more damage? to put him in a place where he's more under the neo-con's direct control?

I dunno, but I'm just suspicious as hell. I think Assholecroft recused himself waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too late to have any credibility -- not that he had any before, but. .. .---- and the appointment of Fitzgerald leaves too many other questions unanswered. He's got awfully close ties to the * regime, and he's not truly independent of or antagonistic toward the folks he's investigating, the way Starr was.

this should bear fruit. We'll see that "frog march" any minute now.

Pass the popcorn. Woohoo. Bush is Toast.

Not.

Like everything else out of this WH, this move is as clear as mud. He's been able to see all the evidence. So how does this recusal help protect the sanctity of the investigation?

UNLESS....they are about to take this to a grand jury?

That he should have recused himself was obvious at the very start of this. I hope the CIA has something to nail his sorry ass.

Will has an article about the Plame story in GD BTW

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=968426&mesg_id=968426

Does this mean that Asshcroft is recusing himself, but his subordinates that work under him and that he controls will do the investigation?

Isn't that just a ruse?

Shouldn't the whole Justice Dept of Ashcroft's be recused and an independent investigation be done by people who don't report to the Bush Admin?

mix. It just wouldn't be prudent now. No one has resorted to using logic and common sense yet so why do you have to go and be a trouble maker? If there is no independent council then it is a whitewash.

What a great present! This is a MAJOR concession; there's no way to spin it because it should have done when the story broke. The CIA won't let this die--this is going to hang over the Bush White House like that 16-ton Monty Python weight!

GET THEE BEYONE ME, ASHCROFT!
UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!

rocknation

How many times was that repeated during the conference, and where was Assclown???

Rove knew Novak would take the bait. Rove was pissed at Joe Wilson because Joe called him out on the uranium from Niger story. Roved used to work for Ashcroft and Rove got Ashcroft the job.

I find it hard to believe that Rove or anybody else high up in the administration will be implicated. They are just doing this so that it won't look as bad politically when they say that they are all innocent. If Ashcroft said that, people would be more skeptical.

He's still a facist pig in my book, but at least he knows better than to investigate his own boss and cronies.
Janet Reno didn't investigate Clinton for the same reason, Meese didn't investigate Iran/Contra. It's all because of Mitchell/Watergate, AG's have to be careful.

The question is who will be doing the investigation? Another Repub or a "special counsel"? Or one of the career justice lawyers?

What if Ashcroft is recusing himself because they've found nothing as to who tipped off Novak and they don't want it to appear as though Ashcroft is covering up? I don't trust these criminals.

I am so cynical of everything they do, though.

My guess is that everyone has been fed their line and all possible material evidence is now non-existant. Hell of a Justice Dept.

n/t

Ashcroft was in charge of the "internal" investigation. By recusing himself, he is essentially saying there is at least partial involvement and/or knowledge and he cannot continue to investigate something that may involve him or his department.

Dashle sent a letter last week asking for an update. Maybe asscraft
could not provide a non-incriminating update so he is using this as a delaying tactic.

uncovered the administration wants a special counsel for credibility/politcal cover/spin.

Why did John Ashcroft stop flying commercial airliners before Sept. 11?

IL DEMS we need to call patrick fitzgerald and make him feel the heat of importance to this issue. I am calling today to let Mr. Fitzgerald know that the American public is extremely upset about this.

:kick:

2 take the fall. Evidence has been manufactured/destroyed 2 point 2 the chosen leaker. If ANY of the journalists contacted 2 leak Plame, had any sense of honor or cared about their country, they would say who contacted them Novak was not the only one contacted, just the only one willing 2 play big mouth.

to get his unshrouded tit thoroughly inserted in the wringer.

:evilgrin:

has an admission from Matthews and is able to quote him about the wife...what were his words - toast? (Similar meaning).

It's only a matter of sequence...if Novak won't talk, Tweety already has.

Do you think 'he/she/they' were organized enough to spread the deed around?

Traitorgate? Felonygate? Treasongate? Betrayalgate? Squashgate?

They squashed her and they squashed the operations of the CIA. Sure hate to stick up for the CIA, but I imagine they do one or two honorable things.

Rove-Ashcroft Ashcroft-Rove
Time to go back to Missouri.

Sorry, Missouri.

Snitchgate?

An official told Fox News that Ashcroft's decision suggests that some sensitive information has been learned in the investigation. The official added that while the recusal does not mean Ashcroft has a conflict of interest, the attorney general "felt he should recuse himself."

The official said that Ashcroft's decision not to recuse himself earlier was a matter of efficiency. "The investigation was moving so quickly that if we had done this earlier, it would have slowed the investigation down," the official said. Fitzgerald could use the same career prosecutors already working on the case if he chooses to, meaning the investigation will not be slowed by the change of authority, he said.

The investigators are on the trail of someone high up in the food chain. And given Ashcroft's strong relationship with Karl Rove, could Turdblossom be in the crosshairs? Ahh, to dream... But at the very least, I can't imagine Liddy Libby not going down.

There really is blood in the water.

http://www.dailykos.com/

Oh hell yeh, things must not be going well in L'Affair du Wilson-Plame. I just knew this story could not die!!

:D :D :D

After the Thomas Kean thingie, I'd say it is absolutely nothing. Kind of like Laura coming forward and saying junior never wrote those poems.

:grr:

Why can't I get exicited over it? Something tells this cynic, that this will go nowhere, like everything else Bush has been able to get away with. There is nothing here that is going to bring anyone to justice at all. It is just another blip that will go down the memory hole at some point in time while the little boy Bush continues his fund raising events, garnering in millions and millions of dollars. He has all that money to spend on lies, don't forget and he has shown that he is totally confident in the ability of the lie to fool the people he has pledged to serve.

Americans will know nothing at all about this, generally. Really I believe that.

If so, this may be just another opportunity for him to dip into the Crisco. Actually though, I think this probably is encouraging news unless it is just a delaying tactic. I will be disappointed if Fitzgerald comes out with a statement about the need to start the investigation anew. I wish I knew what Turd Blossom Rove's reaction was.

Maybe they will be anointing him in Rose Water.....Praying he will come out smellin' like a rose.

I think the incantation goes something like OH GOD !!! Don't let me get caught.

ALL the charges against the W. Bush administration will now be pushed at the special prosecutor. Cheney Energy Task force, faked Iraq war intel, bogus Iraq reconstruction contract.

The special prosecutor seems reasonably honest. Dumbya is done.

Ashcroft's motivation? Probably avoiding prison.

that's how it gets done. Cheney task force will not be included. Nor will other items outside the specific purview of the investigation: who outed the CIA agent, how and why.

I guess they ALL got the memo.

Hard to believe....

Why? Too much time has passed.

1. This is a conspiracy of two. Too small. Actually far more reporters(who didn't report it) and the leaker. The leaker is the only criminal. And once a criminal has had time to get good legal advice, He ain't admitting diddly squat. Because THAT is the only way he will go down.

2. A reporter is GOING to have to talk and spill the beans. When was the last time you saw that? Never. Of course Novak is a lost cause so forget him. The BEST you might get in this regard is that a reporter "leaks" who leaked to another reporter. Embarrassing? Maybe. Would we know the truth? Sure. But still useless in court.

3. It's been a few months now. By now, the leaker knows how much exposure he has. Phone records? He knows by now if they got him by the balls with it. How come he hasn't left? Pretty confident.

4. What we want is national exposure. For the independent counsel to launch a congressional inquiry. Because that's where it would hurt Bush. Other embarrassing things would obviously be exposed. He can do this if he doesn't get cooperation. If everybody "cooperates" it don't happen. The investigation stays focused on only one thing. So nothing further comes out. You can be cooperating and still not providing useful info. Only ONE person has to play counter this game. the sole leaker.

My feeling is Ashcroft already knows there isn't enough evidence anywhere. He just wouldn't believed if he told us. So he has this guy from Chicago waste time rehashing the same evidence. interviewing the same people. Wasting time.

Those crucial initial months were critical. They are gone forever now.

and bush* doesn't have the character or the stamina to stand up like Clinton did (and Clinton was never convicted of crime, but an $ 87 Million Federal Prosecution WEIGHT fell on him)...but now,
the bush* SCANDAL is TREASON !!!! much much much bigger than a blow-job...

just the announcement of a 'special prosecutor' puts that 'cloud' over the White House....

it's real shocking to me that
the U.S. Attorney General just announced that there will be a
'Special Prosecutor' Federal Investigation to determine if there is TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in time of war...and it is going on in OUR White House........it horrifies me that there may be someone in the WH who is a TRAITOR....


just the announcement, suggests to all Patriot Americans that something very illegal may be going on in OUR White House...TREASON....

so it's a 'cloud' over the White House and over the upcoming elections....a concern, a suspicion of illegal activities in the White House...a suspicion of TREASON in the White House....

the upcoming investigation is not about trivial stuff,
like blow jobs
like third-rate break-ins

this is about TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN TIME OF WAR....

the investigation alone of such a heinous crime takes my breathe away...it will consume a lot of time for the whole WH staff, while they are juggling TWO wars, an easily preventable mad-cow epidemic, 9/11 investigation, a non-functioning homeland security department, health-care crisis, major wall street scandals, ongoing anthrax crisis, collapsing economic conditions all over America....and ALL the WH minions will need their own personal lawyer (they can't count on asscrofts dept. anymore), so lots of money too....

just take Watergate...... and substitute TREASONGATE
and take Vietnam Quagmire....... and substitute Iraqmire
and take nixon ...............and substitute bush*

and that's exactly what has happened so far, and bush* is following the nixon playbook....so I anticipate the continuation of the nixonian playbook right up to when bush leaves (with the exception that asscroft wisely just jumped off the sinking ship to avoid following in the steps of john mitchell, U.S. Attorney General, who was sent to Federal PRISON for 2 years and 8 months).....bush* is going down like nixon....watch in the next few months as some of those smarter rats jump off the sinking ship right behind asscroft....

They've had 3 good months to hide whatever they want. Make it as hard as humanly possible to find out who the identity of the actual leaker. Note actual because they may have been setting up a fall guy for Fitzgerald to find.

The good thing about this is that Fitzgerald seems to have a solid track record. Our great hope is that they throw obstacles in front of him and he gets mad and makes noise. If they annoy him he enough or he finds blatant evidence of a cover-up obstruction of justice charges could be filed.

This is all very Nixonian. I like Leakgate better than anything else.

for Clinton...he was NEVER convicted of a crime....it cost the taxpayers $ 87 Million and Clinton left office owing over $ 40 Million from his own pockets (which were very empty)....

and all over 'investigating a 10-minute blow-job'....



bush* is taking this to a much much much much HIGHER level....this is a 'Special Prosecutor Federal Investigation' into TREASON in the White House.....TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in time of war.....

not about a blow-job
not about a third-rate break-in at Watergate
this is about TREASON...

right now, as we contemplate the full breathe-taking magnitude of this bush* SCANDAL....I am certain the HUNDREDS of Washingtonians have cut short their holiday vacations, and are rushing back to DC....lawyers, CIA agents, public relation specialists, image consultants, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, the entire WH staff, movers, reporters, talking heads, and more...THIS IS A SCANDAL...a big BIG scandal...TREASON at the White House...spooks, war, covert operations, treason...this is right up at the top for White House scandals...

and DC is always ready for a great BIG scandal....hope the special prosecutors office leaks like a sieve from DC to Chicago...and even if it doesn't, there'll be plenty of speculations....and the investigation will continue in some form for a long long time...the CIA will likely help it move along with an occasional revelation of very pertinent revealing information that we had never known about before...which will be sent to the 'special prosecutor' via the Washington Post and New York times....

bring 'em on .....g.w.bush

average American. Do you really think middle America is going to get upset about something like this. They might if they had the implications explained to them but with this media that's certainly questionable.

I would bet that 80% of Americans have no idea who Karl Rove.

It's a Michael Jackson Elizabeth Smart Monica Lewinsky world and thats a damn shame.

tons of bizarre sex scandals going on 'behind closed doors'....

and because this is an investigation of TREASON...the prosecutors will need to know EVERYTHING....who's having lunch/dinner with who...who meets when...which hotels everyone was checked into at the time, and with whom....dead-beat parents, divorces...

all of this normal 'sin-city' stuff continuously going on 'under-the-radar', while photo-ops of bush* employees in prayer circles, during Federal working hours, are broadcast all across America....
portraying an image of christian, up-right, moral, sent-by-Jesus people in the White House....

NOW for the White House, everybody's 'sins' have become a NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN....


some real scum stuff will POP-UP during the investigation....who knows what it'll be, but in DC, there's TONS of it....

here's a reTHUGlican example.... during a normally serious solumn supreme court nomination hearing for Clarence Thomas (R), suddenly it POPPED-UP that Clarence has a real scummy private life with sex-videos and porn....and in-the-office gropping...and quickly thereafter, it POPPED-UP that the previously respected Senator Henry Hyde (R) (chair of the Clarence hearing) had a LONG sordid affair with a married women, mother of three young children, and that her distressed husband had begged hyde, to let his wife come home from the apartment, that hyde rented for her, with illinois state money....

and then, the grown children appeared gravely telling America that hyde ruined their lives...as clarence's hearing mushed forward....four more previously highly-respected members of Congress had their nasty sex-lives revealed to America...and the Speaker of the House (?) actual RESIGNED Congress and left DC and went home (to prevent his sex-life from being publically displayed).....whew...and a stunning FULL PAGE AD in the Washington Post, paid for by Larry Flynt of Hustler Magazine, offered a MILLION DOLLARS to anyone who could present evidence of more sex scandals by any member of Congress....


who knows what futher scandals will come out of the TREASON investigation of the White House...but, like most bush* BIG 'screw-ups' so far...it could turn out to be even BIGGER than Clarence's hearing....

The crime I believe is violation of some 1980's intelligence act.

The fact remains that we need the media to help us get this to the average American in a big way. Do you really think CNN will give this more than 5 minutes a day? and FOX anything at all? Watergate broke open like it did because of the WashPost.

I just can't see it breaking to help us in any big way without the media on our side.

recall, bush1 used to be in charge of the CIA and bush1 didn't like it when people blew the cover on our spooks, because then lots of people who were with our spooks and helped our spooks are also exposed and GET KILLED....

read here about the exposed under-cover agent, so you can understand why this is TREASON AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in time of war.....


-----------------------------

Wilsons' wife is named Valerie Plame, and she has worked for the CIA for years. Plame is not an analyst or a secretary. Plame is what the CIA calls a NOC, which stands for "non-official cover." A NOC designation means that Valerie Plame was working under such deep cover that she could not be associated with the American intelligence community in any way, shape or form. Plame worked out of a CIA front company called Brewster Jennings & Associates while she performed her service to America's defense. Her service? Valerie Plame ran a clandestine global network designed to track any person, group or nation that might try to deliver weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

.....Agents within the Bush administration destroyed a network dedicated to what is roundly broadcast as this administration's main mission: Keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists....

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/123003A.shtml

Let us hope this has legs (and teeth)
>Love and Love's Peace to All at DU.

It means that something could not keep until the Friday trash dump.

What has happened to the evidence in the meantime, plus the recollections of potential witnesses? It has been how many months? Joe Wilson's NY Times piece that sparked all this controversy appeared July 6th. Let's just hope it isn't too late to get to the bottom of this. I have a feeling that it is, if Ashcroft is relinquishing power.:-(

Could it be that Ashcroft is recusing himself so as not to appear partisan. Suppose after all our yelling that it is not a Repub that did the leak.

Special Counsel Is Named to Head Inquiry on C.I.A. Leak
By ERIC LICHTBLAU

Published: December 31, 2003

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 ? Attorney General John Ashcroft disqualified himself on Tuesday from any involvement in the investigation into whether Bush administration officials illegally disclosed the identity of an undercover C.I.A. officer. At the same time, the Justice Department brought in a special counsel to lead the politically charged case.

The two steps suggested that the three-month-old investigation had reached a crucial juncture at which Mr. Ashcroft's continued involvement was considered politically untenable, officials said. Leading Democrats had pushed for months for Mr. Ashcroft to remove himself from the case because of his close ties to the White House, but he had consistently resisted those demands until Tuesday.

Federal investigators have been examining whether officials at the White House or in other federal offices leaked the identity of the C.I.A. officer, Valerie Plame, to Robert Novak, a syndicated columnist. Mr. Novak included the information in a column published last July.

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Wilsons' wife is named Valerie Plame, and she has worked for the CIA for years. Plame is not an analyst or a secretary. Plame is what the CIA calls a NOC, which stands for "non-official cover." A NOC designation means that Valerie Plame was working under such deep cover that she could not be associated with the American intelligence community in any way, shape or form. Plame worked out of a CIA front company called Brewster Jennings & Associates while she performed her service to America's defense. Her service? Valerie Plame ran a clandestine global network designed to track any person, group or nation that might try to deliver weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

.....Agents within the Bush administration destroyed a network dedicated to what is roundly broadcast as this administration's main mission: Keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists....

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/123003A.shtml

Aren't we in a decared 'War on Terror'?

I have been following this story since July, when a friend sent me the original New York Times OP/ED piece. She was hoping, back then, that this would be the one thing big enough to bring down the Bush* administration, but we are all still waiting. As I have said, so many times, about so many things, how do they keep getting away with this?!:grr: