Bush Authorized Spitzergate

[Robbien]

By Kirby Sommers
Writing from the United Kingdom

A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney told a federal grand jury that President George W. Bush authorized him to leak information about Eliot Spitzer’s use of prostitutes from a classified intelligence report to a New York Times reporter. Details of the testimony were included in a court filing made yesterday by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is prosecuting the former aide for perjury, obstruction of justice, and making false statements in connection with the probe into the leaking of Spitzer’s sexual exploits which resulted in the scandalous resignation of the Governor of the State of New York.

According to Fitzgerald’s filing the aide testified that he provided a New York Times reporter with information from a classified National Intelligence Estimate after being told by Cheney that Bush "specifically had authorized” him to "disclose certain information in the NIE" The aide also testified that Cheney, upon urging from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, specifically directed him to seek out the services of Republican dirty trickster Roger Stone.

Bruno denies these allegations pointing out that he severed his ties to Stone back in August 2007 after Stone left a threatening phone message at the office of Spitzer’s elderly father.

The leaking of the classified material was apparently done in an effort to silence claims made by Spitzer regarding the Bush administration’s partnership with predatory mortgage lenders which resulted in two million families losing their homes to foreclosures.

The Fitzgerald filing also notes the aide told grand jurors that he conferred with David Addington, Cheney’s counsel, about the leak directive and that Addington told him "that Presidential authorization to publicly disclose a document amounted to a declassification of the document" While both Bush and Cheney have been interviewed by Fitzgerald, it is unknown whether they confirmed or disputed the aide’s assertion that he was authorized to disclose findings in classified reports.

An article written by former Governor Spitzer, which you will find below, is said to have been the catalyst for President Bush and Vice President Cheney to promptly rid themselves of Eliot Spitzer.

more. . .
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=62042

[Somawas]

1. Why is gubernatorial hooker bopping in an NIE?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. In my gut, I don't doubt this, but I would love to see the court papers filed by Fitzgerald.

[enid602]

3. Plame

Swell. Another Plame. But why would tattling on Spitzer be considered a leak of classified information? He wasn't a covert agent. This 'leak,' if true shows how Bushco is really using increased surveillance, however.

[mac2]

4. Doesn't this all smell of a dog and pony show?

[Truth2Tell]

16. If the investigation of the prostitution ring

had national security implications then it might show up in an NIE. An example would be if the FBI suspected the ring was some sort of front for a foreign intelligence organization, or had unusual ties to one.

Just sayin'.

[Lobster Martini]

5. So who's the aide? Scooter?

Perjury, obstruction of justice, false statements...sounds like our little Scooter.

[Ian David]

6. WebWire is a press release service. This may be true, but it's not a credible source. n/t

[Robbien]

7. The writer has a blog

http://kirbysommers.blogspot.com/

She doesn't source the info in this entry. It could be true, or not. Her previous blog entries seem careful.

[MelissaB]

8. I read the headline and couldn't believe it. I thought this was a joke.

:wow:

[tom_paine]

9. Of course, this is absolutely forbidden to be discussed in Imperial Amerikan Media

and naturally, there will be no investigation by the Democratic Congressional Leadership.

None.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

[Supersedeas]

15. to complex for the off-the-cuff no-homework allowed cable punditry

[Supersedeas]

10. what a sordid circle of friends

[bleever]

11. I have serious doubts about this.

Fitz was named a Special Counsel for the Libby matter. I don't know of any information that he has undertaken any other work under the Special Counsel mandate.

And he interviewed * and Cheney regarding this? With no media attention?

And a court filing would name the aide, and it would be a matter of public record.

[Crabby Appleton]

12. Sounds like bullshit to me.

[notadmblnd]

13. Want to see the memo Mukasey wrote just a week before this happened?

it's a pdf so you will have to click on the link in he article to see the memo. both are a good read.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=c5005f31-237e-4f9d-bca1-891c7aa2b7b2

[Disturbed]

14. Report: Eliot Spitzer Linked To Second Prostitution Ring

,Wicked Models


Today's NY Post links former New York governor Eliot Spitzer to Wicked Models, a high-priced prostitution ring busted this week. His spokeswoman denies he was a client. Three weeks ago Spitzer stepped down as governor when he was linked to Emperors Club VIP. Based in midtown Manhattan, Wicked Models was run by a buxom blonde named Kristin "Billie" Davis, who also saw clients. Davis, 32, is currently being held on $2 M bail after pleading not guilty to promoting prostitution and money laundering.
Writes the Post:





http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/27/report-eliot-spitzer-lin_n_93652.html

[YummyLicious]

17. Bush Behind Spitzergate by Kirby Sommers

Which brings to mind another pay for sex scandal.

One involving can't shoot straight Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney having liased with prostitutes linked to the DC Madam. According to reports, Cheney was CEO of Halliburton during the time of his trysts with the girls at Deborah Jeanne Palfry's escort firm. The press killed this story as soon as it surfaced.

Guess the Cheney-banging-a-prostitute-story is oh-ho-hum...not important.

[bleever]

18. Welcome to DU, YummyLicious.

It's a high stakes game of poker, where one side has warrantless surveillance.