This piece is remarkable, intriguing, even astonishing. I assume that John Dean is accurate in his legal scholarship; and he certainly should be familiar with the legal precedents to immunity and criminal prosecution of government officials. If Obama really intends to pursue criminal prosecutions if elected, that would explain his seemingly inexplicable reversal on the FISA expansion. I don't understand why this has not received more coverage.

John Dean provides insight as to why Obama may be supporting the FISA ammendment because the bill protects telecons from civil cases but not criminal cases. Dean theorizes that Bush will not pardon the telecoms on his way out because a pardon implies an admission of some level of guilt but with Bush's failed presidency he may have more to loose if he does not pardon them. A criminal case could disclose more of Bush's own illegal acts.