WP/AP: Ex-Aide Libby Wants Classified Materials

[PhilipShore]

Washington Post
Ex-Aide Libby Wants Classified Materials
By TONI LOCY
The Associated Press
January 31, 2006

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/31/AR2006013101434.html

WASHINGTON -- Lawyers for a former top White House aide want access to classified intelligence briefings to show that he had more pressing matters on his mind than lying about leaking the identity of a CIA operative to get even with her husband for criticizing President Bush.

In a 21-page filing in federal court Tuesday, lawyers for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby accused prosecutors of withholding evidence they say they need to mount a defense.

Specifically, Libby's lawyers are seeking copies of the highly secretive President's Daily Brief, a summary of intelligence on threats against the United States, given to Bush from May 6, 2003, to March 24, 2004.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was indicted last year on charges that he lied to the FBI and a federal grand jury about how he learned CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity and when he subsequently told reporters.

[M155Y_A1CH]

1. Leak a time saving measure?

He was too busy to what? Shut his mouth?
I think we better keep this man away from classified materials.

[Lochloosa]

2. Trying to get the charges thrown out. National Security issues.

Hoping the judge sees through this one.

[Just Me]

3. *scratches head* He's actually opening the door for the State,...

,...to acquire classified docs, too. Amazing.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. WP: Libby's Lawyers Seek Papers on Plame's CIA Employment

Libby's Lawyers Seek Papers on Plame's CIA Employment
By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 1, 2006; Page A05


Attorneys for Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff urged a court yesterday to force a prosecutor to turn over CIA records indicating whether former CIA operative Valerie Plame's employment was classified, saying the answer is not yet clear.

The defense team for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby also asked that the court require Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald to turn over any informal assessments conducted by the CIA to determine whether the leak of Plame's identity in July 2003 damaged national security or agency operations.

Libby was indicted in October on five counts of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of justice in the course of Fitzgerald's investigation into the leak of Plame's identity to the media. The indictment charges that Libby lied to investigators when he said he did not provide information about Plame to two reporters and when he said he learned about Plame from a third, NBC's Tim Russert.

Defense lawyers argued in court papers that it is crucial to determine whether Plame was not an undercover operative at the time Libby was discussing her with members of the media, and whether little or no damage was done to national security when her identity was publicly disclosed.

If either is true, the defense argued, it will "challenge the prosecution's contention that Mr. Libby has reason to lie to the FBI and the grand jury about his conversations with reporters in July 2003."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/31/AR2006013101464.html?sub=AR

[OKNancy]

5. kick