What is the status of the Fitzgerald investigation?

[babylonsister]

I was out of town for the past few weeks, and am listening to Novak spouting off on MSNBC (MTP rerun). Is the investigation over? And why are Plame and Wilson filing suits?
Thanks for any info.

[Missy Vixen]

1. Happy to help

Hi babylonsister,

As far as we know, the investigation is still going. There's been no formal announcement that Patrick Fitzgerald's closing up shop.

The Wilsons filed suit civilly because they were coming to the end of the period in which they could file without running afoul of the statute of limitations.

Julie

[babylonsister]

3. Many thanks, Julie! That, in a nutshell, explains the Wilson action

and eases my concerns.

[bleever]

4. Which should not be confused with the "statue of limitations".

:hi:

[babylonsister]

6. bleever...

:spank:

Look at this! :wow:


http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=statute+of+limitations&btnG=Search

[Hokie]

2. Fitzgerald will wrap things up in 2032

I am convinced that Fitzgerald is nothing more than another right wing whore who will delay his investigation past any election that can hurt Shrub and will then fold up his tent and go home. I had hope once but I call them as I see them and he is a whore.

[Pharaoh]

5. My gut feeling is

They are threatening him and his family's lives. These guys don't fuck around, his lines are tapped he is being threatened and these guys make the godfather look like a wussy, so stay tuned..........

[Garbo 2004]

28. So why was Libby, Cheney's "Cheney" indicted? Libby was a key player in

the Iraq WMD fraud, more dangerous to the Administration in terms of what he could spill if he talked than political hack Rove. Charges adding up to a max sentence of 30 years isn't exactly a pass.

[PSPS]

7. You're right about that

His appointment was beyond the bounds. As an employee of the justice department, he was never supposed to be eligible for this assignment. But Ashcroft slipped him in, knowing the cabal's wall of protection in congress wouldn't raise any objections.

You're right -- his job is to run out the clock.

[babylonsister]

11. He wasn't eligible? Can you provide a link for that info, since this

is the first I've heard that. Thanks.

[PSPS]

23. Sure.

From 28CFR600.3 (a) "The Special Counsel shall be selected from outside the United States Government."

Since Fitzgerald is US Attorney in Chicago, his appointment contrary to the statute.

Justice did an end-run around this "problem" in typical fashion: They issued an "opinion" in a letter to congress saying that it didn't apply to this appointment of Fitzgerald. (Remember, the law is "quaint" to these goons.)

In any case, it's very clear except to the most dense that this Fitzgerald investigation isn't going to produce anything of substance. It's all just a stalling action.

[Garbo 2004]

26. Except he wasn't appointed under that regulation, but AG's statutory

authority to delegate. Statute trumps regulation in this matter. Not an "end run." And the opinion was that of the General Counsel of the GAO. http://www.gao.gov/decisions/appro/302582.htm#_ftn16

[Missy Vixen]

16. The appointment was not "beyond the bounds"

>But Ashcroft slipped him in<

Patrick Fitzgerald was appointed by James Comey, acting attorney general. Mr. Comey eventually ended up resigning from the Justice Department after taking on Ashcroft and buddies over the illegal wiretapping.

Please use fact instead of conjecture.

Julie

[PSPS]

22. Gee, sorry!

I guess you have reason to believe Comey, Ashcroft's deputy, was somehow acting on his own volition. But I don't share your confidence. Ashcroft "recused" himself and had Comey appoint Fitzgerald. It looks good on paper and, apparently, to you. But I don't see any real distinction.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

9. I'll be eighty seven years old.

If he doesn't wrap it up that year I will start smoking again. :smoke:

[ladjf]

13. Or shortly thereafter.

[Catherine Vincent]

29. Come on admit it.

You called Fitzgerald a whore twice just to see what responses you would get.

[grytpype]

8. I suppose you don't want to hear the truth.

It's over except for Libby's trial.

[babylonsister]

10. Yes, I do, but could you provide some links, please? nt

[blogslut]

12. stop the bleeding

has been collecting the court filings here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x3589

As for some of the other comments here, well...:crazy:

[Independent_Liberal]

14. This thing has gone on longer than the Watergate investigation.

I have a feeling that some new developments are going to be coming in soon. I always check up on what's new with Fitzgerald. This plus the AIPAC investigation, the Aragoncillo spy probe, the Abramoff-DeLay investigations, the Sibel Edmonds FBI whistleblower case, and the "Duke" Cunningham/Hooker & Poker Party investigation all add up to one spicy enchilada. I think I'll wash that down with some beer.

:beer:

[babylonsister]

18. Hookergate! Is anyone doing anything about that? Is there at

least an 'ongoing investigation'?

[Independent_Liberal]

27. Last I heard, criminal charges were being considered against the #3 man at

the CIA, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, or as I like to call him, Foggy Goggle. Hehehe! :D Porter Goss resigned apparently because of an "ongoing investigation." Right now we're seeing the eye of the storm. This storm includes other things besides Foggo. I believe the thing that set it off was the Jefferson raid on Capitol Hill. That was the final nail in the coffin that pissed it off. If you want to see what's coming our way, please PM me.

[Igel]

15. There is no indication that Fitzgerald has closed up shop.

There's the Libby trial, for one thing.

On the other hand, there's scant word of additional witnesses being called. It's possible that depositions are being taken discretely, but little reason to suspect it. For non-news there aren't links.

I note that last year the investigation into Richardson (remember him? Clinton cabinet member, resigned in '95 or '96) wrapped up. I'm sure his staff is busy, and he has enough to do by telecommuting; but he also has other things to tend to.

I don't expect his investigation to wrap up this year; maybe late next year. As far as actively investigating ... that's a different matter. He may still be combing testimony and transcripts for evidence, or he may not. He'll only speak up publicly when there's an indictment. The day he closes up, he'll probably issue a press release saying, "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

[babylonsister]

19. Ignorance confessed here:

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."

:shrug:

Please explain!

[yodermon]

20. google's your friend, big wink, n/t

[babylonsister]

21. Damn, I kind of figured, but

I learned something -

So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish (1984, ISBN 0345391837) is the fourth book of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series written by Douglas Adams. Its title is the message left by the dolphins when they departed Planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspatial express route, as described in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It has since been adopted by some science fiction fans as a humorous way to say "goodbye".

[AndyTiedye]

17. Sealed vs Sealed Saturday Night Massacre

[Jazz2006]

24. Yikes, don't start the Sealed v. Sealed thing again unless

you really want to go into the whole Leopold/Pitt fiasco again.

Edit: typo.

[Junkdrawer]

25. Yep. Gonzales killed it, Leopold took the blame...

I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes. How easily we're fooled.

[Jazz2006]

30. Nonsense.

There is no credible evidence whatsoever to support that theory.

[earth mom]

31. You said it!

And sadly, there are many people around here who still believe in Fitzmas....

[AndyTiedye]

35. Gonzales Is the Grinch…

…who stole Fitzmas.

The only reason it went on as long as it did is that
the BFEE did not yet have complete control of the CIA.
By putting Hayden in charge, that has been accomplished,
so they can shut down the investigation with impunity.

9996

[Catherine Vincent]

32. Which investigation?

Apparently he charged two guys recently for selling bad salad dressing? :-)

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-salad13.html

[babylonsister]

33. That was helpful.

And I thought you of all people would have the skinny on what's goin' on!

[Catherine Vincent]

34. Yeah, lol. What Julie said up top was the skinny.

Fitzgerald won't give us a comment. Very irritating. :)