The investigation into the Plame Game, my personal favorite of all the Bush scandals, may be near its completion.
The Washington Post reported over the weekend that two of its reporters, both of whom were apparently offered the leak about undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity, have been asked to speak to a federal grand jury.
A special prosecutor investigating whether administration officials illegally leaked the name of an undercover CIA operative sought yesterday to interview two Washington Post reporters in connection with the probe.
Special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald told Post lawyer Eric Lieberman that he wants to talk to Post reporters Walter Pincus and Glenn Kessler but declined to discuss the information he is seeking, Lieberman said. Lieberman said he told Fitzgerald he would respond to the request next week.
The Post suggested that the move may be indicative of the investigation’s conclusion.
The request to interview reporters may suggest the probe is winding up, because Justice Department guidelines require that prosecutors exhaust all other avenues before taking the step of calling reporters before a grand jury. If that is the case, as some attorneys for witnesses believe, it is not clear whether Fitzgerald is moving toward seeking indictments in the case or whether he is preparing to complete it without bringing criminal charges.
Because of the ultra-secret proceedings, we haven’t been hearing much about this, but this is still a major political and legal scandal that is still hanging, Damocles-like, over Bush. With international developments dominating the news, it’s easy to forget that this White House is under a criminal investigation for a scandal involving Bush aides undermining national security.
The result of the investigation will be released in the midst of a presidential campaign. In a funny way, there’s almost no upside for Bush.
If Patrick Fitzgerald and the federal investigators bring criminal charges against two high-ranking White House officials, it could be devastating politically. Bush’s support is already in freefall; a criminal trial involving top presidential aides may make a comeback impossible.
Unfortunately for Bush, however, the opposite is not the case. If Fitzgerald concludes there were breaches in national security but not enough evidence to bring formal charges against anyone, Bush won’t enjoy a boost — the scandal isn’t the cause of his political problems. This story isn’t on the public’s radar at all right now, so Bush can’t run around expecting applause by saying, “Look how great my White House is! We won’t face criminal prosecution for a criminal leak!”
For Bush, this scandal is all down-side. Stay tuned.