Just interesting to add to Plame

Just a brief mention of the Libby plea deal negotiations.

And Fitzgerald's indictment sets the stage for either a trial next spring or a plea bargain that almost certainly would mean jail time for Libby. That possibility has already been discussed: a source close to the investigation told TIME that Fitzgerald and Libby's attorney Joseph Tate discussed possible plea options before the indictment was issued last week. But the deal was scotched because the prosecutor insisted that Libby do some "serious" jail time.

Not a surprise that there were plea negotiations with Libby, but one salient point is left out. Who initiated those negotiations? Because I think that would tell us alot towards whether the case is closed, or the Libby indictment was simply a move for leverage. Reading the last sentence, it sounds like Libby's lawyer approached Fitzgerald with some sort of light, no jail time offer. But if that's the case, I would love to know if there was any deal which Fitzgerald would have accepted. Is it over? I sure wish I could see Fitzgerald's cards.

UPDATE: Interesting theory to back up the mysterious disappearing line in that WaPo article today.