Prosecutor, judge in CIA leak probe meet
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-27 08:37

Prosecutors wrapping up a criminal investigation can meet with the chief judge for a variety of reasons, such as extending the life of the current grand jury, empaneling a new grand jury, temporarily sealing indictments, or simply preparing logistics for indictments or the closing down of the case.

Though weary from days of intense speculation about the fate of two of their most senior colleagues, White House aides tried to carry on with their normal work. Rove and Libby joined other administration officials at the daily White House senior staff meeting, as usual. Libby has been on crutches after breaking a bone in his foot.

"We're focused on the work at hand," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan, who added, "We obviously continue to follow developments in the news."

The public appeared divided about the controversy. A CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll taken over the weekend found 39 percent of Americans believe the leak of Plame's name was illegal, another 39 percent believed it was unethical but not illegal and the remainder saw nothing wrong or were not sure.

Fitzgerald has been in Washington since Monday, and over the past two days he has dispatched FBI agents to conduct 11th-hour interviews.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney waves after delivering remarks at a reception held in honor of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), currently the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, in Washington October 26, 2005. [Reuters]

One interview involved the former Rove colleague. Another set of interviews occurred in the neighborhood where Wilson and Plame lived. Agents asked neighbors whether they had any inkling that Plame worked for the CIA.

Such interviews may help Fitzgerald establish that Plame had carefully protected her CIA identity, part of the process of determining whether the disclosure of her name amounted to a crime that hurt national security.

When the controversy erupted two years ago, the White House adamantly insisted no presidential aides had been involved in leaking Plame's name to punish or counter Wilson's criticism over Iraq.

But Fitzgerald's team meticulously gathered evidence showing Rove met with two reporters before Plame's name was published, and Libby had contact with at least three reporters.