Freyne Land

First comment on Karl Rove's resignation comes from Vermont's senior senator, Patrick J. Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“Earlier this month, Karl Rove failed to comply with the Judiciary Committee's subpoena to testify about the mass firings of United States Attorneys.  Despite evidence that he played a central role in these firings, just as he did in the Libby case involving the outing of an undercover CIA agent and improper political briefings at over 20 government agencies, Mr. Rove acted as if he was above the law.  That is wrong.

"Now that he is leaving the White House while under subpoena, I continue to ask what Mr. Rove and others at the White House are so desperate to hide.  Mr. Rove’s apparent attempts to manipulate elections and push out prosecutors citing bogus claims of voter fraud shows corruption of federal law enforcement for partisan political purposes, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will continue its investigation into this serious issue.

“The list of senior White House and Justice Department officials who have resigned during the course of these congressional investigations continues to grow, and today, Mr. Rove added his name to that list.

"There is a cloud over this White House, and a gathering storm. A similar cloud envelopes Mr. Rove, even as he leaves the White House.”

***This just in at 4:55 p.m. from Rep. Peter Welch:

"Karl Rove's departure is long overdue.  While the so-called "Architect" is gone, his legacy of seriously misguided politics and policies regrettably remain in place.  His departure does not give him or the President a free pass from the congressional investigations and close scrutiny these policies rightly deserve."