bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded

[brettdale]

We have to be honest, there is no positive spin on this quote.

"I can tell you, the substantial bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded."

[Faygo Kid]

1. "This" investigation.

Maybe I am optimistic, but I think this is not over.

[brettdale]

9. I think

With all due respect, that really is clutching at straws.

[Faygo Kid]

28. We shall see. GOP controls all branches of govt. and marches in lockstep.

It's not clutching at straws. It's a possibility. And an informed one.

[LSparkle]

2. Yes, concluded -- and it will end with an indictment of KKKarl

He's just gotten a reprieve to think about the plea deal over the weekend ... Why else would Fitz have visited Luskin so close to the end of the GJ? There's enough to indict him; he's just been given an 11th hour chance to save his sorry ass ...

[Catch22Dem]

3. Ok, and you don't think that's cryptic?

Just because the Libby indictment is the only one announced doesn't mean there's a lot of WORK left to go after the others. Then again, it could mean exactly what it appears to mean.

[thinkingwoman]

4. to be honest

there's no negative spin on this quote either.

Both sides are spinning it but it's a simple statement.

After 2 years, the bulk of the work in this INVESTIGATION absolutely should be concluded. The work left to do now is to check, re-check, cross-check, and charge.

If Fitzgerald is trying to build a conspiracy case, Libby is key (and he's not talking except to lie). It's always possible that today's indictments will get him talking in the coming weeks/months.

If not, it is also possible that Fitzgerald will proceed with additional indictments anyway, without help from Libby.

But there is no way to negatively spin Fitzgerald's request for documents from Italy on the Niger forgeries. Why on Earth would he ask for those if perjury was ALL he was working on?

There are plenty who wanted the moon today, but that's not reality. This is a great first step.

[converted_democrat]

10. Very good points there.....n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

22. again proving your name fits you perfectly.

you are absolutely right.

[thinkingwoman]

25. aw shucks

thanks antifaschits. :blush:

[bain_sidhe]

5. That's what he said a year ago too.

Why are you so ready to throw in the towel?

[Avalux]

6. So what does that mean, really?

The nuts and bolts perhaps - doesn't mean it's over. I expect Libby to cut a deal to avoid a trial and jail. Remember the baseball/sand in the eyes analogy? Once Libby talks and tells the truth there will be more indictments.

[cynatnite]

7. There's more than Libby after two years of work...

Fitz just didn't tell us everything.

[brettdale]

13. I'm sorry

I may be a pessimist but I have reread the quote, and to me, its not good at all. This sounds like hes all finished up.

"I can tell you, the substantial bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded."

[meganmonkey]

14. What do you think of the quote in post #11?

[brettdale]

18. Yes it sounds more positive

But I think hes talking about wrapping it up. I see Libby as the big fish who is goign to Fry, but no one else.

[Spazito]

26. You must have missed his other statements he made, for example

"OK, is the investigation finished? It's not over, but I'll tell you this: Very rarely do you bring a charge in a case that's going to be tried and would you ever end a grand jury investigation.


I can tell you, the substantial bulk of the work in this investigation is concluded.



This grand jury's term has expired by statute; it could not be extended. But it's in ordinary course to keep a grand jury open to consider other matters, and that's what we will be doing."

And this:



"QUESTION: What can you say about what you're still working on then?


FITZGERALD: I can't. I don't mean that fliply, but the grand jury doesn't give an announcement about what they're doing, what they're looking at, unless they charge an indictment.FITZGERALD: I can tell you that no one wants this thing to be over as quickly as I do, as quickly as Mr. Eckenrode does. I'd like to wake up in my bed in Chicago, he'd like to wake up in his bed in Philadelphia, and we recognize that we want to get this thing done.


I will not end the investigation until I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that we have carried out our responsibility sufficiently to be sure that we've done what we could to make intelligent decisions about when to end the investigation. We hope to do that as soon as possible. I just hope that people will take a deep breath and just allow us to continue to do what we have to do."

These are taken from the transcript of Fitzgerald's press conference. It doesn't sound like it is finished at all, imo.

Link to transcript:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/politics/28text-fitz.html?pagewanted=all

[No Exit]

8. Can you say CIVIL SUIT? The Wilsons are bringing one

and Rove will be a defendant.

All sorts of Bush administration people can/will be called as witnesses. They can be deposed, also.

If any of them take the Fifth, the public will assume they are guilty of some crime.

[meganmonkey]

11. Fitzy: "I just hope that people will take a deep breath...

...and just allow us to continue to do what we have to do."

---------
The whole quote:

"I will not end the investigation until I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that we have carried out our responsibility sufficiently to be sure that we've done what we could to make intelligent decisions about when to end the investigation. We hope to do that as soon as possible. I just hope that people will take a deep breath and just allow us to continue to do what we have to do."
---------

Looks promising to me :shrug:

[indie_voter]

12. Sure there is

They've figured out what happened (hence substantial bulk of work) and now are in the process of turning the players against each other to get the proof they need to convict.

[goodhue]

15. I agree.

[Mike03]

16. Fitzgerald is a smart guy

The last thing he is going to do is tip his hand regarding where he wants to take this investigation. You heard him today--he follows the letter of the law strictly, and he knows what his legal charter is and observes those limits. The less he reveals, the more power and control he has. It's true that we can't KNOW what is coming, but in reading between the lines of his words today, I think folks can make an educated guess that he is not satisfied with this single indictment and has no immediate plans to disband his investigation.

[CatWoman]

17. another Hans Moleman thread

[ktowntennesseedem]

19. He could have made the exact statement yesterday,

before any indictments, and it would still have been accurate. GJ's do a great deal of work, and then finally hand down any necessary indictments at the conclusion of that work. All I read into it is that the "bulk of the work," aka the investigations, interviews and testimonies, and nearing completion.

But because they are almost done, we should know soon if any further indictments are coming. I just don't see any reason for asking for a new GJ if they are going to do nothing but investigate a few more leads and listen to a little more testimony. Personally, I think the new GJ is needed to put the finishing touches on the remaining indictments.

(I'm no lawyer, but I play one on DU)

[Mike03]

20. Yes, like a million iron filings

All you need is one magnet to make them all point in the same direction. I trust this guy and I think something is going to happen.

People here get confused because they assume he is going to say something like "Heads will roll", but he would never do something like that. He keeps his mouth shut and does his work.

[longship]

21. A scenerio.

It's a very big, complex case.

Fitz has not had enough time to present the whole thing to this grand jury. It's ready to expire, so Fitz has to go with some charges now, or lose significant headway. He takes the part of the case which he can indict without jeopardizing the rest of the case. Plus, it's a big wig, the deputy to the Veep.

Now, what's left. The aides, Rove, and the conspiracy charges. He now has to represent that part of the case to the new grand jury. He may have already done this in anticipation of Friday's expiration of the first GJ. We could see some more within a couple of weeks.

N.B., conspiracy charges would likely nail Libby again.

[Catherine Vincent]

23. With a workaholic guy like Fitzgerald, I'm wondering what the meaning

of substantial bulk is. It may not be what we think it is.

[skids]

24. Translation:

I've already got a stack of sealed indictments I'm not going to tell you about.

Oh and for the record, if the "bulk" of work in a case takes TWO YEARS...

[Zen Democrat]

27. But ... that in itself says it ain't over.

He's now dealing with the product of his investigation and trying to crack the stonewalling. The WH is only giving up what they can't deny due to conflicting testimony, or official logs and notes.