Karl Rove Off the Hook (Most Likely, Probably)

What does it mean, in the words of The Washington Post, that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald “does not expect to seek charges against” Karl Rove? Or, alternatively, in the words of Rove’s lawyer Robert Luskin, that Fitzgerald “does not anticipate seeking charges” against Rove. Is that a door Fitzgerald left ajar? “Does not expect to” doesn’t sound like “absolutely will not” to me. And Fitzgerald isn’t talking. Nor is his spokesman, Randal Sanborn. Sanborn said he would not comment on Rove’s status. Interestingly, the New York Times said, “The prosecutor in the C.I.A. leak case on Monday advised Karl Rove, the senior White House adviser, that he would not be charged with any wrongdoing, effectively ending the nearly three-year criminal investigation that had at times focused intensely on Mr. Rove.” Huh! Is that what Fitzgerald said? Didn’t sound like he said, “Rove would not be charged with any wrongdoing” to me. Sounded like he said, “does not expect to seek charges”. Am I making a distinction that makes no difference? Luskin said Rove “did everything he could to cooperate" with the investigation. Oh, I’ll just bet he did! Has Rove gotten a deal for ratting out his cronies? We can only wait and see. But odds are that Robert Novak soiled himself when he read the news this morning.