Karl Rove's problems show no sign of diminishing - quite
the opposite:
Quote:
White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove did not disclose that he had ever discussed CIA officer Valerie Plame with Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper during Rove’s first interview with the FBI, according to legal sources with firsthand knowledge of the matter.
The omission by Rove created doubt for federal investigators, almost from the inception of their criminal probe into who leaked Plame's name to columnist Robert Novak, as to whether Rove was withholding crucial information from them, and perhaps even misleading or lying to them, the sources said.
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this supports supposition that Prosecutor Fitzgerald is looking beyond the original leak at charges ranging perjury to obstruction of justice.
meanwhile, in a desperate bid to drive the story from the front pages, the administration has accelerated the naming of the new Supreme Court Justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor up to
tonight, with a prime time splash:
Quote:
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Television outlets were asked to broadcast Bush's announcement live at 9 p.m. EDT from the White House. Traditionally, even major appointments are made in daytime ceremonies, but the White House decided to go all out for the first Supreme Court nomination since 1994. The big splash also might divert attention from Bush senior aide Karl Rove's involvement in the CIA leak case that has caused Republicans to worry about Bush's standing in opinion polls.
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a logical move - might distract the public briefly, but it's not gonna stop Patrick Fitzgerald. however, McClellan can sure use the break.