Are Fitzgerald's hands tied or can the investigation expand

[Toots]

I do not understand exactly how it works. Can Fitzgerald expand his investigation if evidence of further crimes turns up or does he have to stick with just the issues of this investigation? IMO this investigation is just the tip of the iceburg. LIES were told to start a war and this was just one aspect of covering up for their LIES. I think we should be asking for the investigation to expand to cover the DSM and any other evidence turned up for these War Crimes.

[LibertyorDeath]

1. As far as I know as a special prosecutor he can subpoena

whomever he wants independent of any approval by the Justice department. :)

[RDANGELO]

2. what I have heard

From what I understand,Fitzgerald was told he could only investigate the outing of Plame, and if he went further,he could be fired. Now, if he had evidence if other crimes, I imagine he could leak the information ,and then if they fired him,it would look really bad. He could also wait until after the Plame investigation is done, and hold a press conference stating what evidence he has of other crimes.

[annabanana]

3. that's not the usual thing for a "special prosecutor"

Who would have told him his inquiry was to be, um, truncated in that way?

[H2O Man]

7. Baloney.

If you could site a source, that'd be interesting. But it is simply not true, or even in the ball park.

In cases such as this, the prosecutor determines if what the general goal of the investigation is. In this case, it was quite obviously the CIA's concern (noted in their 7-24 03 message to the chief of the Counterespionage Unit of DoJ; and the 7-30 and 9-5-03 letters to the Criminal Division of DoJ) that the law had been broken when Plame's identity was provided to journalists by senior White House officials.

A prosecutor can make a general determination to keep the investigation open, as Fitzgerald did. In doing so, when new or unexpected information arises, as happened a year ago this month, the judge hearing (actually supervising) the investigation can allow the grand jury to head in numerous directions. The examples of this during the Clinton years should stand out.

Last July, the judge in this case allowed Fitzgerald a significant amount of additional time to investigate some "surprising" information that arose from the investigation.

It would be impossible for anyone from the White House to even suggest that there are restrictions on Fitzgerald. They would be incarcerated within ten minutes of such a threat being issued. It is silly to say such nonsense, much less believe it.

[Pithy Cherub]

10. Agreed. A careful distinction under the law

is between Special Prosecutor (Fitzgerald) and what used to be available as an Independent Counsel (Walsh, Starr et al). The Independent Counsel statute no longer exists. But the protection and wide ranging abilities of the Special Prosecutor are not to be interfered with by the legislative or the executive branches.

Some people confuse the two as being one and the same.

[babylonsister]

4. It seems the investigation might be expanding. This was

sent to me by a fellow DUer but I'm not sure of the source:

http://prisonplanet.com/Pages/Jul05/190705Tenet.html

Tenet under investigation for pre-9/11 AA put options?


www.total911.info | July 19 2005

Tom Heneghen reports to Cloak & Dagger Internet Radio (late of 50,000-watt blowtorch CFMJ-AM) that a trusted "source close to the Fitzgerald investigation" says the independent prosecutor is looking into former CIA Director George Tenet's role in pre-9/11 put options placed on American Airlines.

Previous editions of Cloak & Dagger reported that the special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has taken his investigation beyond who named Valerie Plame as a CIA agent into who frauded up claims that Saddam Hussien was seeking yellowcake uranium and, ultimately, the 9/11 scam.

C&D correspondent Tom Heneghen reported on the July 17 show that Fitzgerald is looking into insider trading on airline stocks before 9/11. Heneghen reports that over the three trading days before 9/11 on the Chicago Board of Options 4,516 put options (bets the price would tank) were placed on American Airlines stock vs only 748 call options (bets the price would go up).

According to C&D, Fitzgerald is investigating Tenet's role in connection to Buzzy Krongard, a former No. 3 at the CIA, and that man's relation to the 2,157 airline options placed through Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter, located on the 22d floor of the WTC.

[geek tragedy]

5. My understanding is that if he uncovers further evidence of criminal

behavior, he is free to pursue those leads as well.

Remember, the investigation has already "shifted" its focus, according to judges who have seen Fitzgerald's hand.

[mmonk]

6. Nothing would prevent

him from expanding connecting pieces or additional crimes from those persons currently investigated and/or associates.

[Booster]

8. Wasn't Ken Starr all over the map with his investigation of Bill C.?

Seems to me what's good for the goose....I would love to see Fitz expose whomever had those stock options on the airlines. The IRS is all over me if I make a profit on the sale of 20 small stocks, but they can't seem to figure this one out. Our government is corrupt, folks. ha

[dogday]

9. He is allowed to expand his investigation

the whole point centers on a revenge motive because Joe Wilson found nothing in Niger to equate Saddam and yellow-cake. The WH retaliated, the reason for retaliation is fair game for this court. That reason could possibly take you to the very start of this war and the reasons the WH gave for going.

The Grand Jury could find a whole hosts of charges for many individuals. It is up to them to indict for crime....