Prospect: Ashcroft's Interest (what Ashcroft knew about Plame)

[grytpype]

Ashcroft's Interest
Exclusive: The Attorney General received numerous briefings last year on the Plame case: "Whatever the FBI knew, was able to know within days if he wanted to."

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=8073

Attorney General John Ashcroft received numerous detailed briefings last year regarding the criminal investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of a CIA agent's identity, during which he was told specific information relating to the potential culpability of several close political associates in the Bush administration, according to senior federal law-enforcement sources.

Among other things, the sources said, Ashcroft was provided extensive details of an FBI interview of Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's chief political advisor. . . .

In addition, sources said, Ashcroft received a briefing regarding copious notes {!!!} maintained by I. Lewis Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. The notes, later turned over to investigators, detailed the inner workings of the White House Iraq Group. The ad hoc group was set up by senior administration officials to devise strategies to win over U.S. and international public opinion to support going to war with Iraq. ...

Some of those notes described efforts to discredit Wilson by the White House Iraq Group, including Rove...

{much more at the link}

[gatlingforme]

1. Gee, I never would have thought... n/t

[ewagner]

2. Okay....let's walk through this

Ashcroft was getting daily briefings. He saw all the information the FBI had. He finally, reluctantly, recused himself.

Why?

[grytpype]

3. The article sez...

The briefings for Ashcroft abruptly came to a halt last December, several officials said in interviews, when Ashcroft, bowing to political pressure from congressional Democrats and responding to concerns raised by career Justice Department officials, named a special counsel to take over the Plame investigation.

...

In describing the pressure that Ashcroft recuse himself and name a special counsel to take over the probe, one senior official said: "He wasn't shoved. And it is probably too strong to say he was pushed. But he was strongly prodded to do what he did. There were respectful discussions. He was provided with some strong recommendations. We should leave it at that."

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

4. abominable behavior

Ashcroft knows that Rove, with whom he has enjoyed personal and political ties, is, at best, a significant witness (if not a prime suspect), yet chooses to be privy to details about Rove's testimony. He must've found John Mitchell's discarded ethical blinders -- briefly picked up by but nearly worn out by Ed Meese -- while inspecting the executive washroom on his first day at DOJ.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. If Libby's notes include exposing Plame as an option to discredit....

...Wilson, every single participant in that meeting is toast.

Badly BURNT toast.

Excellent article by an excellent writer.

[snippy]

6. Interesting reference to the White House Iraq Group.

I have always thought, and often have posted, that revealing Plame's status was a WHIG operation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=142863#142952

[oly]

9. Thanks Snippy

[The empressof all]

7. kick (eom)

[oly]

8. Anyone else surprised by the seemingly large amount of

crossover between the Plame investigation and the Special Ops propagandists. I guess I didn't think the issue through.

In addition, sources said, Ashcroft received a briefing regarding copious notes {!!!} maintained by I. Lewis Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. The notes, later turned over to investigators, detailed the inner workings of the White House Iraq Group. The ad hoc group was set up by senior administration officials to devise strategies to win over U.S. and international public opinion to support going to war with Iraq. ...

[Hoping4Change]

10. I'm actually losing track of all the insidous workings and

plottings of this despicable cabal.

BTW oly welcome to DU. Glad you're here.:hi: