Saturday, November 19, 2005

Dean to Fitzgerald: Broaden your scope

John Dean, no stranger to investigations of the White House, writes an open letter to Patrick Fitzgerald:

With all due respect, Mr. Fitzgerald, I believe you are being had. I believe that you were selected with the expectation that you would conduct the narrowest of investigations, and it seems you have done just that.

The leak of Valerie Wilson's status did not occur in a vacuum. Republicans in Congress do not want to know what truly happened. You are the last, best hope of the American people in this regard.

I can tell you, as someone who travels about the country, that Americans -- regardless of their political disposition -- are deeply troubled by this case. And, increasingly so, by the limits you have apparently placed on your investigation.

To right-minded Americans, the idea that Administration officials have betrayed their national security obligations, yet remain in their jobs, is nothing short of appalling. Beyond politics is patriotism: Patriotic Americans want to see you not only prosecute those who compromised and endangered Valerie Plame Wilson, but also force the Administration to clean house with respect to those who did this, which you can accomplish through appropriate civil action.

At one point, Dean cites Teapot Dome as one example of what Fitzgerald should do in regard to "civil remedies".

This letter is from one lawyer to another, but it won't make your eyes glaze over or put you to sleep. Probably. Read.

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