Cover-up charges reportedly being considered in CIA leak case News
Cover-up charges reportedly being considered in CIA leak case

[JURIST] Charges of making false statements, obstruction of justice, disclosing classified information and conspiracy are being considered by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald [official profile] against administration officials in the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity, lawyers close to the case said Thursday. The two-year investigation began after the identity of Valerie Plame [JURIST news archive] was revealed days after Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the administration's pre-Iraq war intelligence. Charges will likely be brought next week, though Fitzgerald's spokesman declined to comment on those reports. Charges could be filed against top Bush political advisor Karl Rove for failing to tell the grand jury during his initial appearances that he discussed Plame with a TIME magazine reporter [JURIST report]. Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, also faces possible charges [JURIST report] of making false statements and obstruction of justice. Fitzgerald could also charge administration officials with knowingly revealing Plame's identity, but sources say the other charges are more likely. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.