Raw Story has the full transcript, but here are the parts that stuck out to me:
Karl Rove has described his three and a half hour fifth meeting with a grand jury as “hell,” and is more worried about being prosecuted than ever, MSNBC is reporting.
The three and a half hour duration is considered highly unusual for a fifth appearance before a grand jury, MSNBC’s David Shuster reported. Shuster will be giving an updated report at 7pm EST.
One MSNBC commentator claimed that the fifth appearnce also ties the record held by Betty Currie, former President Bill Clinton’s personal secretary.
Also not boding well for Rove is the fact that the grand jury plans to meet tomorrow. Some are speculating that an indictment for Rove may be handed up tomorrow, though others have claimed such a fast turnaround time is unlikely.
…SNIP….
BUT THE GRAND JURY, ACCORDING TO SOURCES, ALSO PRESSED ROVE ABOUT HIS TESTIMONY IN 2004 WHEN HE FAILED TO REVEAL HE SPOKE TO TIME MAGAZINE’S MATT COOPER ABOUT VALERIE PLAME — THE FORMER CIA OPERATIVE AT THE HEART OF THE INVESTIGATION.
[sot Scott Fredericksen, fmr. ind. counsel] “Grand jurors asking about why he didn’t recall his conversation in the original grand jury means they are focusing on the charge itself: Did he perjure himself? And they are not yet convinced of his explanations, that’s why they are asking those questions.”
…SNIP…
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, VOLUNTEERING TO TESTIFY TO A GRAND JURY IS A RISKY PROPOSITION… LAWYERS SAY IT IS USUALLY DONE WHEN THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT MAY STOP AN INDICTMENT. AND THE SIGNS FOR ROVE HAVE BEEN OMINOUS FOR MONTHS. IN THE LIBBY INDICTMENT, ROVE WAS REFERRED TO AS “OFFICIAL A.” THAT’S A DESIGNATION PROSECUTORS ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE WHEN THEY ARE REVEALING PERJORATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON NOT YET CHARGED.
This really puts into perspective the sudden change in status for Rove’s employment at the White House. It sounds like they are preparing for the worse.
Now we can prepare for a new round of GOP talking points to try and spin what this all means. One thing that will be over looked is the fact that Rove will be too busy with his defense to try and handle the elections this year. This should help provide Democrats with a little more advantage to take over Congress this fall.