Newsweek reports Rove probably in the clear

Now this would be a major disappointment. Rove's entire life is a history of getting away with dirty political tricks, and his sole MO for getting people elected. A scumbag, in short, and one who has consistently managed to dodge responsibility for his actions.

Rove's defense lawyer, Robert Luskin. On Tuesday afternoon, Fitzgerald and the chief FBI agent on the case, Jack Eckenrode, visited the offices of the D.C. law firm where Luskin works to meet with the defense lawyer. Two sources close to Rove who asked not to be identified because the probe is ongoing said Luskin presented evidence that gave the prosecutor "pause." One small item was a July 11, 2003, e-mail Rove sent to former press aide Adam Levine saying Levine could come up to his office to discuss a personnel issue. The e-mail was at 11:17 a.m., minutes after Rove had gotten off the phone with Matt Cooper—the same conversation (in which White House critic Joe Wilson's wife's work for the CIA was discussed) that Rove originally failed to disclose to the grand jury. Levine, with whom Rove often discussed his talks with reporters, did immediately go up to see Rove. But as Levine told the FBI last week, Rove never said anything about Cooper.

I'm no legal man, and of course the Fitzgerald operation has been amazingle leak-proof. But here's how the magazine sees it:

Rove remains in some jeopardy, but the consensus view of lawyers close to the case is that he has probably dodged the bullet.

The big question the article raises-- but none can answer-- is the role of Novak, who blew Plame's cover in the first place.