Ashcroft's Interest -- Exclusive: The Attorney General received...

[johnfunk]

... numerous briefings last year on the Plame case: "Whatever the FBI knew, {he} was able to know within days if he wanted to."

By Murray S. Waas
Web Exclusive: 07.08.04

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.

Waas shoots -- Waas scores! Check it out at The American Prospect.

[librechik]

1. bulls-eye

"Rove's interview with the FBI was highly significant, sources said, in that although Rove adamantly denied having leaked the name of CIA officer Valerie Plame, he admitted to having disseminated the information -- after it appeared in the news media -- to journalists, political activists, and other administration officials in an attempt to discredit Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV."

"disseminating" is a crime in itself, even if he didn't initiate--I think we have Rove's "death warrant" hidden among these interviews!

[lancdem]

2. The last sentence in this paragraph is interesting, too

Despite these developments, Fitzgerald's intentions currently remain one of the most tightly held secrets in Washington. There have been scant leaks to the media as to the findings of his investigation so far, and senior White House officials are reeling from the implication that they know nothing more than rank speculation about a highly charged criminal investigation during an election year.

[rexcat]

3. At least someone is doing it right.

There is no excuse for leaks on this case. One can only hope that come September or October some indictments will be coming down.

[neomonkey]

4. who are these guys

The briefings for Ashcroft were conducted by Christopher Wray, a political appointee in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division, and John Dion, a 30-year career prosecutor who was in charge of the investigation at the time. Neither Wray nor Dion returned phone calls seeking comment for this story.


Didn't they for once question the propriety of this while happily filling in the wannabe American Idol on the juicy details so he could turn around and "brief" his clan?

[struggle4progress]

5. kick

:kick: