Rove On The Hot Seat? Office of Special Council Opens Investigation on Karl Rove - but could it be a Rovian trick?
posted by
Wally
9:37 AM
In what at first blush sounds like reason to celebrate, the L.A. Times reported today that none other than Karl Rove is finally coming under investigation.The Office of Special Counsel is preparing to jump into one of the most sensitive and potentially explosive issues in Washington, launching a broad investigation into key elements of the White House political operations that for more than six years have been headed by chief strategist Karl Rove.
The new investigation, which will examine the firing of at least one U.S. attorney, missing White House e-mails, and White House efforts to keep presidential appointees attuned to Republican political priorities, could create a substantial new problem for the Bush White House.
First, the inquiry comes from inside the administration, not from Democrats in Congress. Second, unlike the splintered inquiries being pressed on Capitol Hill, it is expected to be a unified investigation covering many facets of the political operation in which Rove played a leading part. This is potentially explosive news of a potentially devastating investigation - the broadest and highest profile in the 106 year history of the Special Council. This is the kind of thing that should be keeping Rove, Bush, Cheney, and much of the GOP awake at night.
Except for one minor catch. Now that Rove is officially "under investigation" he can use the excuse that he's not at liberty to answer questions relating to any of this "during an ongoing investigation". Note that the Office of Special Council is part of the administration itself. It's not an independent council appointed by Congress or an outside body. Putting on the tinfoil hat and looking at tactics used by this administration in the past, I can not rule out the possibility that this is a Rovian trick to stonewall other inquiries. By dragging out the OSC investigation, he may be able to avoid answering any questions or answer for his actions at all.
So, while I'd love to announce this investigation as great news, I have to offer a sobering possibility. Like the misnamed "Healthy Forests" and "Clear Skies" initiatives, this investigation might be another underhanded way of intentionally avoiding the exact goal that it appears to be after. Exposing the truth. On the other hand, it really could be great news. We'll be watching.
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