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Karl Christian Rove
Former Senior Advisor to President Bush
Political Operative, Dirty Trickster, Valerie Plame Leaker
Overview
Karl Rove was George W. Bush's chief political strategist known as"Bush's Brain"and"The Architect."He pioneered ruthless political tactics including the Valerie Plame leak that exposed a CIA officer in retaliation for her husband criticizing Iraq War intelligence, voter suppression strategies, and Swift Boat-style character assassination. He escaped indictment in the Plame case but was at the center of the conspiracy to out a covert agent.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
VALERIE PLAME LEAK: Leaked CIA officer identity to reporters in retaliation for husband's Iraq War criticism
PLAME INVESTIGATION: Testified to grand jury 5 times, escaped indictment but admitted discussing Plame
SWIFT BOAT VETERANS: Orchestrated character assassination campaign against John Kerry's military record
2000 SOUTH CAROLINA: Push polls suggesting John McCain had illegitimate Black child
FIRED US ATTORNEYS: Central figure in firing 9 US Attorneys for political reasons (2006)
VOTER SUPPRESSION: Designed strategies to suppress minority voting
DIRTY TRICKS LEGACY: College Republican chairman during Watergate era, mentored by Donald Segretti
EMAIL DELETION: 22 million White House emails deleted during his tenure, RNC server use
DON SIEGELMAN PROSECUTION: Alleged political targeting of Alabama Democratic governor
REFUSED SUBPOENA: Refused to testify before Congress, cited executive privilege
Related Investigations (7)
Bush Administration U.S. Attorney FiringsAbuse of Power
Tier 2
highBush v. Gore: The Stolen 2000 ElectionFinancial Crime
Tier 1
criticalCitizens United: The Dark Money CoupFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalDark Money in American PoliticsFinancial Crime
Tier 1
criticalBush White House Email Deletion ScandalObstruction
Tier 3
highGerrymandering: The Stolen MapsElection Integrity
Tier 2
criticalValerie Plame CIA LeakNational Security
Tier 1
highCriminal Charges & Violations
6 documented violations
50 U.S.C. § 421 (IIPA)Intelligence Identities Protection Act; Leaked Plame identity(National Security)
18 U.S.C. § 1505Obstruction of Justice; Evading congressional testimony(Obstruction)
18 U.S.C. § 1001False Statements; Misleading statements about Plame role(Federal)
18 U.S.C. § 371Conspiracy; Coordinated Plame leak with Libby, Cheney(Conspiracy)
52 U.S.C. § 20511Voter Intimidation; Suppression tactics(Election Crimes)
Presidential Records ActDestruction of Records; 22 million deleted emails(Federal)
Known Associates & Connections
George W. Bush
Principal,"Bush's Brain"nickname
Dick Cheney
Vice President, Plame leak coordination
Scooter Libby
Cheney CoS, fellow Plame leaker, convicted
Robert Novak
Journalist who published Plame leak
Donald Trump
Occasional ally/critic, Trump SuperPAC opponent
Sources & Documentation
6 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Plame Leak Investigation: Special Counsel Fitzgerald(2003-2006)
House Judiciary Committee: US Attorney Firings(2007)
Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War(2006)
Rove Grand Jury Testimony Records(2005-2006)
Email Deletion Investigation: House Oversight(2007)
Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight(2010)
Personal Information
- Born
- December 25, 1950
- Birthplace
- Denver, Colorado, USA
- Also Known As
- Bush's Brain, The Architect, Turd Blossom, Boy Genius
Education
- •University of Utah (did not graduate)
- •University of Texas at Austin (did not graduate)
- •George Mason University (did not graduate)
Key Timeline
December 25, 1950
Born in Denver, Colorado
1970
Drops out of University of Utah for politics
1973
Becomes College Republican National Committee chairman
1973
Teaches dirty tricks to young Lee Atwater
1977
Founds Karl Rove & Company consulting firm
1978
First works for George W. Bush's congressional campaign
1994
Manages Bush Texas gubernatorial campaign
2000
Architects Bush presidential campaign, SC primary attacks on McCain
2001
Becomes Senior Advisor to President Bush
2003
July: Leaks Valerie Plame identity to Robert Novak and others
2003
Joseph Wilson op-ed criticizes Iraq War intel, triggers retaliation
2004
Swift Boat Veterans campaign destroys Kerry
2004
Bush re-election, Rove called"The Architect"
2005-2006
Testifies 5 times before Plame grand jury
2006
US Attorney firing scandal emerges
2007
Resigns from White House
2007
22 million White House emails revealed deleted
2010
Co-founds American Crossroads Super PAC
Present
Fox News contributor, Wall Street Journal columnist