Article: Karl Rove Non-Indictment – Time for Jason Leopold and William Rivers Pitt to Pony up with Names and Specifics

According to John Solomon of the Associated Press, Patrick Fitzgerald did not indict Karl Rove and reports have surfaced that he will not be indicted despite reports to the contrary. Truthout as well as Jason Leopold who reported that the indictment had in fact happened on Friday May 12 http://www.truthout.org/fitzgeraldcalling.shtml and his editor William Rivers Pitt now have a responsibility to take readers through the process that led them to report the incorrect information. Depending on the way sources provided information, particularly if it can be determined that sources intentionally misled Leopold, those sources should be named along with details of what information they provided. Sources that lie or otherwise intentionally provide disinformation to the media should not have assurances that they will remain anonymous. Naming them will alert other journalists to be wary of any information those sources might provide as well as a deterrent to others who might act similarly.

While Republicans and the Bush Administration might be tempted to celebrate today, such a celebration would be premature. The news is certainly good for Rove personally, but as this passage from Solomon's AP article, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_rove shows:

"With Rove's fate now decided, other unfinished business in Fitzgerald's probe focuses on the source who provided Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward information about Plame.

Woodward says his source, who he has not publicly identified, provided the information about Wilson's wife, several weeks before Novak learned of Plame's identity. The Post reporter, who never wrote a story, was interviewed by Fitzgerald late last year."

at least one person in the Bush administration has good reason to be nervous. There is much speculation about the identity of Woodward's source. Some believe that the source is Vice President Dick Cheney. I believe it is another official in Cheney's circle acting on unofficial orders from the Vice President to punish Valerie Plame and her husband for his NY Times article debunking administration claims on Iraq seeking to purchase uranium from Niger. I do not think Cheney would expose himself by calling Woodward directly. Regardless, the investigation is continuing and between the impending trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and the sword of Damocles hanging above the head of Woodward's source, I think it likely that many bad days are still ahead for the Bush administration on Leak-Gate.