Why would Fitzgerald interview Valerie's neighbors so late in the game?

[CoffeeCat]

Yesterday it was reported that Fitzgerald interviewed Valerie Plames' neighbors--just this week.

The neighbors testified that they were "shocked" to learn that Plame was a CIA agent. They had no idea.

I understand completely--the Fitzgerald would want to demonstrate that Plame was indeed covert. However, why would he be gathering evidence on this point---so extremely late in the game? He's been investigating this case for two solid years. Why would wait so long to gather evidence and prove that she was "covert"?

Any guesses?

[hippiechick]

1. Yep ... here ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2185421

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I remember earlier

when the case was really getting involved in the press there was an article (I didn't save it sorry) where it said the neighbors were surprised. Maybe he was just comparing notes or something.

[montana500]

2. frightened people are talking

..and it's likely IMHO that this thing will be expanded.

[cassiepriam]

3. Could Fitz be putting pressure on someone?

[LaurenG]

5. Somebody Lied (a lot) and he was following

up to make sure 1 more time.

[janx]

16. That would be my guess.

The wingnuts have pushed the "everybody knew she was CIA" talking point over and over and over.

[Fridays Child]

18. That's what I think, too.

Somebody probably said that even Valerie Wilson's neighbors knew she was a CIA operative. And, after it emerged that Fitz had done the interviews, the media tried to find one neighbor who said that he or she knew about Mrs. Wilson. But they couldn't find one. Not one.

But it's just crossing the "Ts," as they say. I think, when Fitz prosecutes, he wants to paint a comprehensive picture of how everything that came out of the defendant's mouth was a self-serving lie.

[LiberalEsto]

6. So as not to tip his hand too early? nt

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I think these neighbors were talked to a long time ago.

[rodeodance]

9. He is making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's naught and

nice.

[H2O Man]

12. This has to do

with putting pressure on Rove. Some of the administration have said that Plame's identity was common knowledge. What is interesting is that it was common knowledge only among the administration and neocon circles. And that is because Karl told so darned many people.

What the prosecutor and FBI is showing is that no one outside of the people in the administration-neocon circle knew. It is actually worse for Rove -- far worse -- that he ran his mouth when he was in his giddy phase (June-July '03). The FBI interviews are a public way of showing Rove how trapped he is.

[Catherine Vincent]

20. Oh my! I feel honored that you responded to one of my posts H2O Man.

And a good response it was! :hug:

[John Q. Citizen]

26. I agree. He's signaling Rove that he's ready ready to charge him

with more than just perjury/obstruction. He's ready to charge him with outing a covert CIA agent.

[napi21]

8. My guess is that one of the jurors asked if he talked to Val's

neighbors, and either he hadn't or had only talked to a few. He then sent his investigators back to the neighborhood to talk to more. I sounds like he's just trying to put some comfort to the concerns of one of the jurors. Not a big deal.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Sounds about right. n/t

[Jersey Devil]

23. That's my belief as well

Probably a question asked at the last GJ session when they were trying to summarize things and decide on charges.

[SidDithers]

10. Maybe checking to see if neighbours had been pressured...

or contacted by White House staff?

Sid

[Demobrat]

11. My guess is he just doesn't want any surprises

and is beating the bushes to make sure there aren't any lying in wait. Her neighbors were questioned long ago - but things happen. People move in and out, leave and come back, and you never know who might have been pressured or bought off. He probably just wants to make doubly sure nobody's going to pop up at the last minute with a different story.

[Verve]

13. IMO, Rove's defense to Fitz is that she wasn't covert, even the neighbors

knew she worked for the CIA. (That's been repub spin as well). Fitz was probably tying up loose ends, making sure when the indictments come down that he has a tight case and that Rove can't use this excuse or try to buy a neighbor off.

[Beetwasher]

15. Crossing "T's". It Probably Went Something Like This:

"Sir or madam, you were interviewed some time ago about whether you knew Mrs. Wilson worked for the CIA. You had indicated you didn't know. Since then, some right wing blowhards have been saying on cable news and elsewhere that several neighbors have said that they DID know. So, I will ask again, did you know or has your story changed? You do understand that lying to a federal investigator is a federal crime?"

[VolcanoJen]

19. That's what I'm thinking. Did you see the two neighbors on Rita Cosby...

... last night?

Yes, I suffered through Rita's voice to watch her scoop. I was honestly pretty impressed that she got the two neighbors to come on her show and dish... voice notwithstanding.

Both neighbors insisted they had no idea Plame worked for the CIA until Novak's column came out. They were adamant. They insisted that's what they told the FBI... but they did sound as though it was the first time they had been interviewed.

She then interviewed Fred Rustmann, who provided the Washington Times with the conservative conventional knowledge that Plame's CIA status was "well-known" among her neighbors. Rustmann left the CIA in 1990, just as Plame's career was beginning, and long, long, LONG before she married Joe Wilson and moved into the neighborhood Rustmann was talking about. Rita did a shitty job of interviewing Rustmann... mostly because she was rushed to commercial before continuing with the pressing Aruba Missing White Girl story. :eyes:

I think this is a damned interesting part of the investigation.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. I imagine the rightwing hacks are busy trying to find rightwing neighbors

who are willing to lie for their beloved Chimp in another switftboating attrocity.

[TNOE]

17. Another RW talking point

apparently the drug addicted Rush Limpballs said on his program that "her neighbors knew" and Ann the Man Coulter said the same thing on Hannity last night - so I'm hoping he is just lining their "talking points" up one by one to knock down in a row - like a big huge bowling ball - then what will be left for them to argue? Not that they won't find something... but they will just look very weak and ineffectual - to the point hopefully that even the most vile RW will see them as jokes. And I believe I heard one talking head - Chris Matthews maybe(?) saying that her neighbors DID NOT KNOW.

[Norquist Nemesis]

25. Exactly! They're re-emerging the "everyone knew it!"

I heard this all the time from talking heads.

[Brotherjohn]

21. Not nec'ly to nail someone for outing her. But to (further) prove a crime

... was committed.

I don't doubt for a second he'd already spoken to neighbors, etc., and is just following up (things are leaking out a little more asd D-Day approaches).

But the un-mentioned part of this is, perhaps, he want's to make doubly sure a crime was committed, since he will likely not be indicting for that crime itself, but for the perjury and obstruction in covering it up.

If a defense atty. can successfully argue that there has been no proof of a crime, then a judge might be persuaded to drop the other charges.

[MissMarple]

22. Whatever the reasons, the effect is bad for the White House.

Their spin is once again debunked and at a time when more people are watching the story unfold.

Fitz is tucking in all the loose ends and wrapping things up in a nice little package tied with a bow. And he is scaring the bejesus out of a few more of the naughty people.

:)

[johnnydrama]

28. it is funny

That these phony talking points spewed out by Bush's minions on TV are coming at a point when the public is the most focused on this case then they've ever been.

Maybe 6 months ago, they could get away with saying their neighbor's knew, or Joe Wilson lied, but when they actually read Joe Wilson's op-ed, or see the neighbor's on TV they can understand the truth.

I am pretty curious what is behind somebody like Coulter or Rush blatantly out and out lying on these subjects.

Do they actually believe it, or are they just trying to protect the president. It would be amazing if they actually convinced themselves these things are true.

[MissMarple]

29. Welcome to DU, johnnydrama!

About Coulter and Limbaugh, it's almost like they haven't been given new talking points, and they are hoping the old ones will still work. And they may with the folks who don't want to be confused by the facts.

George has stated his political philosophy is focusing on the people who can be fooled all of the time. We will always have those poor idiots with us. Let's hope the "some of the people some of the time" folks are regaining their critical thinking faculties. :)

[ThoughtCriminal]

27. If someone was pressuring neighbors

to change their story and say they knew she was CIA before the Novak column, it could add to obstruction and witness tampering charges.

[CoffeeCat]

30. I agree with the things many of you are saying...

Many of us have heard that Fitz is professional and highly intelligent.

It sounds like, Fitz is countering the RW talking points. He's heard, no doubt--that many Reps insist that Plame wasn't "covert".

Fitz is destroying their defense, before they have a chance to load up Limbaugh, Hannity and other propagandist with the usual buffet of lies.

And isn't it interesting that this tidbit about the neighbors being interviewed AGAIN--was leaked. 99 percent of this investigation is secret. But not this point. Hmmmm.

Like a few other posters said, that information was leaked for a reason. Someone told the GJ that Plame wasn't covert and even her neighbors knew she was CIA. Fitz is letting that person know, "You're a damn liar. Everyone is going to know you're a damn liar and I'm about to make a complete farce of you in the next 24 hours."

Maybe he's putting the squeeze on someone to fess up to his lies--or perhaps he's attempting to get the person to totally cave and reveal more info? Obviously, if one or more WH thugs said she wasn't "covert" and the "neighbors knew"--these people and their attorneys were just sent a strong signal from Fitz---what you said is total fabrication and there is no neighbor who knew.

Interesting thoughts from everyone, on this subject. It's such a small tangent of this--but it really is HUGE. Or should I say Hugh? :)