[JURIST] There will be no announcements in the investigation into the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity until Friday, a spokesperson for Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald [official website] said Thursday. The White House is waiting for news on whether a federal grand jury will issue indictments after Fitzgerald met with the panel [JURIST report] Wednesday. The investigation is said to be focusing on two key White House aides, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby [official profile], the vice president's chief of staff, and Bush's top political advisor, Karl Rove [official profile]. The two-year investigation began when the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame [JURIST news archive; Wikipedia profile] was revealed days after her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration's pre-Iraq war intelligence. AP has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Charges expected this week in CIA leak probe
• Special prosecutor reportedly finalizing CIA leak charges
• Cheney reportedly told aide about CIA operative
• Cover-up charges reportedly being considered in CIA leak case
• Rove appears before grand jury for a fourth time
• DOJ, Plame special counsel wanted Congress to block CIA ID leak probe
• CIA leak probe could be nearing end, lawyers say
• Plame leak prosecutors interview wide range of administration officials