News, updates, and conjecture about the Plame Game scandal has been pretty intense over the last half-day or so. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know:
* The inimitable Murray Waas wrote another key update on the scandal for National Journal, this time reporting that Scooter Libby may very well face an obstruction of justice charge, at a minimum, for leaving out pesky details in his grand jury testimony — such as his discussions about Plame with Judith Miller.
In two appearances before the federal grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative’s name, Lewis (Scooter) Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, did not disclose a crucial conversation that he had with New York Times reporter Judith Miller in June 2003 about the operative, Valerie Plame, according to sources with firsthand knowledge of his sworn testimony.
Libby also did not disclose the June 23 conversation when he was twice interviewed by FBI agents working on the Plame leak investigation, the sources said.
Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald apparently learned about the June 23 conversation for the first time just days ago, after attorneys for Miller and The New York Times informed prosecutors that Miller had discovered a set of notes on the conversation.
Waas’ report added Libby discussed what he knew of the matter four times — twice by FBI agents and twice before the grand jury — but never said a word about the June 23 conversation.
* Speaking of Miller, her conversation yesterday with Patrick Fitzgerald must have produced some interesting insights because she’s appearing before the grand jury again today. (You can almost hear Libby sweating.)
* The Washington Post reported what may be the most important three sentences of the day.
Numerous lawyers involved in the 22-month investigation said they are bracing for Fitzgerald to bring criminal charges against administration officials. They speculated, based on his questions, that he may be focused on charges of false statements, obstruction of justice or violations of the Espionage Act involving the release of classified government information to unauthorized persons…. “This is not a guy who would walk away with nothing,” said one lawyer involved in the case.
* The Wall Street Journal reported today, “Mr. Fitzgerald’s pursuit now suggests he might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent’s name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy.”
* The Huffington Post reported late yesterday that the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg are “working on stories that point to Vice President Dick Cheney as the target of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s investigation into the leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s name.” If accurate, neither news outlets have published the pieces yet.
* The AP has a story about what Bush’s presidency might (will?) look like if (when?) Karl Rove is forced to resign.
* Newsweek’s Howard Fineman, appearing on MSNBC yesterday, said the scandal has thrown Bush’s presidency into internal turmoil and that “the Bush family, political family, is at war with itself inside the White House. My sense is it’s Andy Card, the chief of staff, and his people against Karl Rove, the brain.”