Fitzgerald's wrapping up

Indictments this month?:

The investigation led by Chicago-based U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has questioned many members of the Bush administration - including the president himself. Karl Rove, Bush's deputy chief of staff and chief political strategist, also has been identified as a reporter's source in the investigation, though his lawyer too asserts that Rove is not a target of the probe.

The grand jury has until Oct. 28 to return indictments if anyone is to be charged in the matter, and a lawyer close to the investigation says Fitzgerald should "be in a position to wrap up" the inquiry now that Miller finally has testified.

"You'll have to ask Mr. Fitzgerald why it was so important," Miller said of her testimony Friday.

A spokesman for Fitzgerald, Randall Samborn, refused to comment on the investigation.

It is unknown whether any Bush administration officials will be charged in the matter. But the investigation has already clouded the image of a White House dealing with an investigation into the actions of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, as well as investigations of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and charges against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

In the course of the grand jury's two-year investigation, Libby and Rove were identified as sources who aided reporters inquiring about Joseph Wilson. Wilson is a former ambassador who was asked by the CIA to investigate claims that Iraq was attempting to buy uranium for nuclear weapons, one of the Bush administration's prewar allegations against Saddam Hussein.