Fitzgerald: Civil Rights Charges? (TomPaine.com)

[norml]

Fitzgerald: Civil Rights Charges?


Larry Johnson just alerted me to this incredible scoop. For anyone out there who has ever read Ender's Game, this is a perfect example of Ender's classic decision to focus on the goal, and not on playing the game. For those who haven't had the pleasure of reading Ender's Game, here's the deal: Instead of Fitzgerald focusing on the crime of leaking an undercover operative's name—a task difficult to prove—Fitzgerald may instead be focusing on the goal of that crime: damaging Joe Wilson's career. Since the attack was so over the top, Fitzgerald may be trying to show that the coordinated White House effort was intending to violate a private individual's civil rights.

That's strategic innovation. Everyone in Washington has just been assuming that attacking your enemies—Karl Rove's specialty since he ran around the country teaching Republicans "dirty tricks"—was fair play.

If this intel is accurate, Fitzgerald just drew a new line in the sand here in Washington.

Aides To Be Indicted, Probe to Continue

By Richard Sale, long-time Intelligence Correspondent

Two top White House aides are expected to be indicted today on various charges related to the probe of CIA operative Valerie Plame whose classified identity was publicly breached in retaliation after her husband, Joe Wilson, challenged the administration's claim that Saddam Hussein had sought to buy enriched unranium from Niger, acording to federal law enforcement and senior U.S. intelligence officials.

If no action is taken today, it will take place on Friday, these sources said.


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http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051026/fitzgerald_civil_rights_charges.php

[Sanity Claws]

1. I like this claim

Infringement of Wilson's civil rights -- an entirely different tack. It attacks the usual political tactics adopted by the Repubs who seem to think everything is fair game in politics, including destroying anyone who disagrees with them. If this report is accurate, the prosecution of this claim will have interesting repercussions for years.

[applegrove]

2. It isn't fair play. If people like Rove are allowed to run around unstoppe

they remake the nation in their image. One where anyone who could get in their way is destroyed and that doesn't work for a democracy.

They keep trying to teach this "it is okay to attack your enemies for things other than their jobs - if it helps us" is a sickness.

Thank god Americans are not buying.

[unblock]

3. a key point is that it wasn't MR. wilson's civil rights that were violated

it was MRS. wilson's civil rights that were violated.

they can spin an attack on HIM as political retaliation, albeit still a gross abuse of power.

but they cannot portray destroying HER career that way. SHE didn't do anything to them makes any kind of retaliation, political or otherwise, appropriate.

[DemReadingDU]

4. article also posted at NoQuarter

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5176556

[rinsd]

5. I don't understand how its a civil rights violation....

..or what statute they could possibly be prosecuted under based on civil rights.

Wouldn't Wilson have to show his reputation was in fact damaged?

Wouldn't this apply to his wife more becuase it DID in effect end her career?