Karl Rove will not be charged with any wrongdoing in the "CIA leak" case being investigated by prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, Rove's attorney has announced to the NY Times:

Leak Counsel Won't Charge Rove, Lawyer Announces

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.

The decision by the prosecutor, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, announced in a letter to Mr. Rove's lawyer, Robert D. Luskin, lifted a pall that had hung over Mr. Rove who testified on five occasions to a federal grand jury about his involvement in the disclosure of an intelligence officer's identity.

In a statement, Mr. Luskin said, "On June 12, 2006, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove."

Howard Dean (file photo)

With his usual class and judgment, Howard Dean declared Rove guilty anyway:

If Karl Rove had been indicted it would have been for perjury. That does not excuse his real sin which is leaking the name of an intelligence operative during the time of war. He doesn't belong in the White House. If the President valued America more than he valued his connection to Karl Rove, then Karl Rove would have been fired a long time ago.

This shows us once again how little liberals value the rule of law and the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Dean cares about defeating Republicans, not about the rule of law, or facts or evidence, or winning the war, or anything - he just wants to win, period.