Karl Rove won't face charges in CIA leak probe

Top White House aide Karl Rove will not be charged in an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity, his lawyer said Tuesday.

"On June 12, 2006, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove," said Robert Luskin in a statement.

Luskin said Fitzgerald's decision should "put an end to the baseless speculation about Mr. Rove's conduct."

For 22 months, Fitzgerald and a grand jury have been trying to determine who told journalists that Valerie Plame was a covert operative for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Federal law in the U.S. makes it illegal to identify such CIA employees.

Plame's name was leaked to reporters in 2003 after her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson, publicly criticized the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq.

Fitzgerald's probe had zeroed in on Rove, President George W. Bush's top political strategist, and Lewis (Scooter) Libby, Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.

Rove has acknowledged speaking with conservative columnist Robert Novak just days before Novak wrote a piece speculating that Wilson received a government consulting contract because his wife worked for the CIA.

Libby resigned in October 2005 after being indicted in the case.

He was charged with perjury, false statements and obstruction of justice in relation to conversations with federal investigators and his testimony before the grand jury.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation.../rove-cia.html

I predict no liberals will comment in this thread.

i second that prediction...........


I didnt really care either way im just glad its over.............

he is a slimmey one. imo

Here's one who'll comment.

I'm glad it's over, too. And if prosecutor Fitzgerald decided not to charge him, that must mean there wasn't anything he thought he could get to stick on him. From everything I've read, Fitzgerald's a bulldog who doesn't let go easily, so I take that as a good sign. Good for Rove. Good for the administration. Good for us citizens and taxpayers. I'll bet the whole west wing staff goes out and celebrates in a big way tonight, too, if they haven't already.