Just caught the news on the IHT's site that Fitzgerald has decided not to pursue charges against Karl Rove.

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 Rove.

The decision by the prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, announced in a letter to Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, lifted a pall that had hung over 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, Luskin said, "On June 12, 2006, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove."

Obviously, this is a big disappointment. Since Fitz has been willing to indict key members of the White House, I can only assume that either Rove was not guilty of any wrongdoing, that he is guilty but covered his tracks, or that he has struck a deal for a bigger fish.

I would like to believe the latter, but Rove is not only legendary for being a loyal sycophant, but he was virtually guaranteed a presidential pardon if convicted, so I really see no reason for him to play ball. I find the former equally implausible - Rove is about as dirty and twisted a Golem as the White House has ever seen. Therefore, though disappointing, I can only imagine that any wrongdoing that pertained to this case was either fairly insignificant, or Fitzgerald just didn't feel that he had enough to secure a conviction.

Either way, when you live a dirty life, you will get a dirty end. Rove's time will come, if not today.