Reports: Libby to Be Indicted, Rove No--We'll Know at Noon

By: E&P Staff An announcement is set for noon, and press conference for 2 p.m. this afternoon, where special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald will finally play his hand in the CIA leak case. According to today's New York Times, and other reports, associates of I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, expect an indictment charging him with making false statements to the grand jury in the Plame case.

Others briefed about the case claim that Karl Rove, President Bush's deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, the Times reported first.

CBS confirmed the Libby report today. "Presidential confidant Karl Rove will likely escape charges for the time being but will remain under investigation by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald," CBS reported. "The decision means Rove is not out of legal jeopardy but will continue working at the White House and cooperating with prosecutors. He has already testified four times before the grand jury investigating who leaked Valerie Plame's CIA identity."

Fitzgerald is now likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday, the Times said. His spokesman would confirm none of this, and The Washington Post later said it had two sources that suggested that Fitzgerald would not extend.

"Mr. Fitzgerald's preparations for a Friday announcement were shrouded in secrecy, but advanced amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions that left open the possibility of last-minute surprises," the Times reported late Thursday. "As the clock ticked down on the grand jury, people involved in the case did not rule out the disclosure of previously unknown aspects of the case.

"White House officials said their presumption was that Mr. Libby would resign if indicted, and he and Mr. Rove took steps to expand their legal teams in preparation for a possible court battle."

The Washington Post, meanwhile, cited two sources holding that Libby was shopping for a white-collar criminal lawyer as Rove began assembling a public relations team in the event they are indicted.