It Appears That Karl Rove Is In Serious Trouble..John Dean

[madfloridian]

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20050715.html

The Jonathan Randel Leak Prosecution Precedent

"I am referring to the prosecution and conviction of Jonathan Randel. Randel was a Drug Enforcement Agency analyst, a PhD in history, working in the Atlanta office of the DEA. Randel was convinced that British Lord Michael Ashcroft (a major contributor to Britain's Conservative Party, as well as American conservative causes) was being ignored by DEA, and its investigation of money laundering. (Lord Ashcroft is based in South Florida and the off-shore tax haven of Belize.)

Randel leaked the fact that Lord Ashcroft's name was in the DEA files, and this fact soon surfaced in the London news media. Ashcroft sued, and learned the source of the information was Randel. Using his clout, soon Ashcroft had the U.S. Attorney in pursuit of Randel for his leak.

By late February 2002, the Department of Justice indicted Randel for his leaking of Lord Ashcroft's name. It was an eighteen count "kitchen sink" indictment; they threw everything they could think of at Randel. Most relevant for Karl Rove's situation, Court One of Randel's indictment alleged a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. This is a law that prohibits theft (or conversion for one's own use) of government records and information for non-governmental purposes. But its broad language covers leaks, and it has now been used to cover just such actions.

Randel, faced with a life sentence (actually, 500 years) if convicted on all counts, on the advice of his attorney, pleaded guilty to violating Section 641. On January 9, 2003, Randel was sentenced to a year in a federal prison, followed by three years probation. This sentence prompted the U.S. Attorney to boast that the conviction of Randel made a good example of how the Bush Administration would handle leakers. "

[Mari333]

1. Thank you for that, John Dean clears a lot up

facts help a lot. Looks like a precedent has been set.

[goforit]

2. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

If the shoe fits....wear it!!

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Ok, that's another possibility

I haven't learned so much about law since that time when Dean was in some serious hot water.

[The Magistrate]

8. And At The Expense Of A Narcotics Agent, Too, Partner

Sometimes things just get too rich....

[Historic NY]

4. Another nail for the lid...........

* only lives for the now he forgets to check the past.

[madfloridian]

5. Well, now I have an almost perfect record.

Almost everything I've ever posted in LBN has been moved somewhere else. It was news to me, was just posted, so I got careless, excited with the new point of view....and goofed again. :shrug:

Should have known better.

[bleever]

6. I'll teach you: recommended.

Good one! Thanks.

:)

[madfloridian]

7. Thanks.

I'll never get it right, I fear. ;-)

[suegeo]

9. So, Randel should now be qualified to serve...

So, Randel should now be qualified to serve in the Bush II administration. Just their type of employee, plus he should be out of prison by now.

Is that what this guy really meant:
This sentence prompted the U.S. Attorney to boast that the conviction of Randel made a good example of how the Bush Administration would handle leakers.

[Boo Boo]

10. Good article. It seems pretty apparent from this that

Rove probably can't be had under the IPA. If anybody can be nailed for that, it seems like it would have to be Cheney, or somebody on the NSC staff. Bush could too, I suppose, but it would be such a colossal screw-up not to protect the President... Doesn't seem likely.

And the fact that Valerie Wilson was not overseas, or may no longer be protected? I'm not sure Dean is really in a position to speak to that point. Saying that there is no public information to support her undercover status is worthy of a great big "Duh!"

This whole deal is turning out to be quite the little page-turner, that's for sure.