Sweep It All Under The Carpet

That's the Washington Post's advice to a prosecutor who, while finding that there is not a makeable case for the criminal conduct under investigation, finds that witnesses have lied to him and intentionally obstructed the progress of his investigation.

The fall of this skilled and long-respected public servant is particularly sobering because it arose from a Washington scandal remarkable for its lack of substance. It was propelled not by actual wrongdoing but by inflated and frequently false claims, and by the aggressive and occasionally reckless response of senior Bush administration officials -- culminating in Mr. Libby's perjury.

Most people don't commit perjury unless they fear that something substantive will be revealed if they were to tell the truth. (Should I say "All"?) So let me register my disagreement: If you lie to a grand jury, you deserve to be indicted. No more substance is required.