Here we are. After two years of breathless anticipation, the Plame Game criminal investigation may very well be wrapped up within the next few days.
The federal prosecutor investigating who leaked the identity of a CIA operative is expected to signal within days whether he intends to bring indictments in the case, legal sources close to the investigation said on Wednesday.
As a first step, prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was expected to notify officials by letter if they have become targets, said the lawyers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Fitzgerald could announce plea agreements, bring indictments, or conclude that no crime was committed. By the end of this month he is expected to wrap up his nearly two-year-old investigation into who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.
So, who, if anyone, has received a dreaded “target” letter from Fitzgerald’s office? Only the players and their attorneys know for sure, but the scuttlebutt is already intense.
For example, consider the fact that Karl Rove’s attorney, Robert Luskin, has never been shy about telling reporters that his client is not a target of this investigation — until yesterday when Luskin “declined to say whether his client had been contacted by Fitzgerald.” Hmm.
The rumor mill is working overtime right now. Two things to keep in mind: 1) I’m always interested in hearing some of those rumors; and 2) we may know what’s what as early as today. Stay tuned.