|
Prosecutor, judge in CIA leak probe meet
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-27 08:37 Prosecutors wrapping up a criminal investigation can meet with the chief
judge for a variety of reasons, such as extending the life of the current grand
jury, empaneling a new grand jury, temporarily sealing indictments, or simply
preparing logistics for indictments or the closing down of the case.
Though weary from days of intense speculation about the fate of two of their
most senior colleagues, White House aides tried to carry on with their normal
work. Rove and Libby joined other administration officials at the daily White
House senior staff meeting, as usual. Libby has been on crutches after breaking
a bone in his foot.
"We're focused on the work at hand," said White House press secretary Scott
McClellan, who added, "We obviously continue to follow developments in the
news."
The public appeared divided about the controversy. A CNN-USA Today-Gallup
poll taken over the weekend found 39 percent of Americans believe the leak of
Plame's name was illegal, another 39 percent believed it was unethical but not
illegal and the remainder saw nothing wrong or were not sure.
Fitzgerald has been in Washington since Monday, and over the past two days he
has dispatched FBI agents to conduct 11th-hour interviews.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney waves after
delivering remarks at a reception held in honor of Rep. John Dingell
(D-MI), currently the longest-serving member of the House of
Representatives, in Washington October 26, 2005.
[Reuters] | One interview involved the former Rove colleague. Another set of interviews
occurred in the neighborhood where Wilson and Plame lived. Agents asked
neighbors whether they had any inkling that Plame worked for the CIA.
Such interviews may help Fitzgerald establish that Plame had carefully
protected her CIA identity, part of the process of determining whether the
disclosure of her name amounted to a crime that hurt national security.
When the controversy erupted two years ago, the White House adamantly
insisted no presidential aides had been involved in leaking Plame's name to
punish or counter Wilson's criticism over Iraq.
But Fitzgerald's team meticulously gathered evidence showing Rove met with
two reporters before Plame's name was published, and Libby had contact with at
least three reporters.
|
