The Chronic Curmudgeon

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July 11, 2005

The Prosecution Rests

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'd like to direct your attention to people's exhibit A: United States Code, Title 50, Chapter 15, Subchapter IV, Section 421b.

Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identify of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Next, People's Exhibit B: Karl Rove, for the last two years:

"I didn't know her name. I didn't leak her name," Rove told CNN last year when asked if he had anything to do with the Plame leak.

People's Exhibit C: The confession by Rove's lawyer that Rove did in fact tell Time's Matthew Cooper about Valerie Plame's role at the CIA.

People's Exhibit D: The text of the e-mail from Matthew Cooper to his editor after his conversation with Karl Rove:

"it was, KR said, wilson's wife, who apparently works at the agency on wmd [weapons of mass destruction] issues who authorized the trip."

People's Exhibit E: The White House, which has been defending Rove for two years and denying his connection to the leak of Plame's name, suddenly went quiet today, conspicuously refusing to comment now that the proof is out in public.

McLellan repeatedly said he couldn't comment because the matter is under investigation. When it was pointed out he had commented previously even though the investigation was ongoing, he responded: "I've really said all I'm going to say on it."

So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, these are the facts: A) Karl Rove played with words to cover up his role in leaking Valerie Plame's name to a reporter -- "I didn't leak her name" ignores the fact that he told a reporter that Joseph Wilson's wife worked for the CIA in the WMD program. That's right, he revealed the identity of a covert agent to a reporter, then weaseled out of teh consequences by hiding behind the fact that he didn't use her name.

B) Karl Rove lied about his role in the leak, which was done solely to extract revenge on a political rival (whose case that the Bush administration manipulated intelligence on yellowcake uranium was eventually proven correct).

C) Rove's action is against the law and is punishable by up to five years in prison.

D) George W. Bush, Scott McClellan, and other members of the Bush administration aided and abetted this crime by covering for Rove and issuing denials on the record.

E) When the proof was out and the Bushies couldn't get away with the lie anymore, they apparently cut and run, leaving their man hanging out to twist in the wind. (The case has been under investigation for two years, Scotty... why all of a sudden are you following a lawyer's advice not to comment on pending investigations?)

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, there are only two conclusions we can come to in this case. First, Karl Rove deliberately leaked the identity, if not the name, of a covert operative in order to punish an American citizen who opposed this administration. Others have gone to prison for this crime. So should Karl Rove.

And second, multiple members of this administration, up to and likely including the president himself, aided and abetted this crime. George W. Bush's role in the coverup of Rove's leak should be fully investigated by the Congress of the United States, and if the evidence shows what it appears to show, George W. Bush should be impeached and removed from office, before he stands trial for aiding and abetting in the commission of a felony.

The prosecution rests.

Posted by Christopher on July 11, 2005 09:36 PM

Comments

Posted by: mcrob at July 12, 2005 06:55 AM

Posted by: Cuzin Jose at July 12, 2005 09:45 PM

Posted by: jillian at July 13, 2005 12:48 AM

Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 13, 2005 12:57 AM