Rove will not be charged in Plame leak

Oof:

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."

Raw Story has a statement from Joe Wilson.

UPDATE: Analysis from Christy Hardin Smith at FireDogLake. And more.

MORE REACTION FROM AROUND THE LEFTY BLOGOSPHERE...

Atrios: "If Rove's really no longer the subject of an investigation will reporters demand - and get - answers to all the questions they refused to answer previously?"

State of the Day points to the WaPo with the early GOP and Dem spin.

GOP: "The fact is this, I thought it was wrong when you had people like Howard Dean and [Sen.] Harry Reid presuming that he was guilty," Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman told Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" show Tuesday morning.

Dem: "He doesn't belong in the White House," Dean said. "If the president valued America more than he valued his connection to Karl Rove, Karl Rove would have been fired a long time ago," said the Democratic Party chairman, speaking n NBC's "Today" show. "So I think this is probably good news for the White House, but it's not very good news for America."

Waveflux: "Well, you can indict a ham sandwich but you can't indict Karl Rove."

Preemptive Karma: "For those of you who thought Karl Rove would be going to prison and later be pardoned by the President, today's announcement that Rove has been cleared is a wake-up call. We're not dealing with amateur criminals here. We're dealing with a racket."

Brilliant at Breakfast: "Wingnuts will be rejoicing today, but for all that I think having Rove take a backseat hasn't helped the Administration "stay on message", I'm not sure his inevitable return to the driver's seat is going to salvage this presidency."

Article of Faith: "I guess if you carry your chinless self up to a Grand Jury *five different times* to testify and re-testify and re-testify again, anyone can "clarify" statements and skate a perjury charge. I hope Christian Rove is down on his knees this morning, thanking Pat Fitzgerald for giving him the chance to make the multiple appearances and "clear things up". As I've written previously, one of the great questions from this Plame investigation, once it's done, is why Fitzgerald allowed him to slip the noose.