Truthout.org writer Jason Leopold reported last Saturday that special prosector Patrick Fitzgerald had indicted Karl Rove as part of his investigation into the outing of former CIA undercover operative Valerie Plame.
“Fitzgerald served attorneys for former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove with an indictment charging the embattled White House official with perjury and lying to investigators related to his role in the CIA leak case,” Leopold wrote, “and instructed one of the attorneys to tell Rove that he has 24 business hours to get his affairs in order[.]”
“An announcement by Fitzgerald is expected to come this week,” Leopold reported sources told him.
Twenty-four business hours is three workdays, which would theoretically put an announcement off until Thursday. But when Monday came and went without an announcement from Fitzgerald — and a sunny Rove gave a rare public performance — questions swirled.
Today, the Wall Street Journal took on Leopold’s account, rounding up a number of on-the-record denials that escaped Truthout.org’s writer. The reporter, Anne Marie Squeo, doesn’t come out and say it, but her references to libel law and Matt Drudge make it clear: she doesn’t believe the guy’s stories.
All of which builds the tension for an announcement, if any will be made, from Fitzgerald’s office. Will it be Thursday? Will it be ever?
