Political Skullduggery

Karl Rove's lawyer has announced that his client is no longer facing prosecution in the "Plamegate" case.

I'm sure "The Architect" is pleased. Scooter Libby and others may not have cause to celebrate the news.

People in Washington who have closely followed the case are saying that there is a fairly good chance that special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald has persuaded Rove to testify against other administration officials.

The decision by the prosecutor, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, announced in a letter to Mr. Rove's lawyer, Robert D. Luskin, lifted a pall that had hung over Mr. Rove who testified on five occasions to a federal grand jury about his involvement in the disclosure of an intelligence officer's identity.

In a statement, Mr. Luskin said, "On June 12, 2006, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove."

Perhaps the letter is a cooperating witness agreement.

In his statement Mr. Luskin said he would not address other legal questions surrounding Mr. Fitzgerald's decision. He added, "In deference to the pending case, we will not make any further public statements about the subject matter of the investigation. We believe that the Special Counsel's decision should put an end to the baseless speculation about Mr. Rove's conduct."

Luskin's failure to "address other legal questions surrounding Mr. Fitzgerald's decision" is interesting in light of the lawyer's usual logorrhea in communications with the fourth estate.

Mr. Fitzgerald's spokesman, Randall Samborn, said he would not comment on Mr. Rove's status.

The Republicans have a critical need for Rove's talents for this year's election season. Maintaining majority status will be essential to avoid the ramifications of several of the administration's more controversial policies.

As one source told me this morning, "the GOP needs Rove more than they need Cheney."

Hmm...