Libby Loses Bid for Documents in CIA Case

[cal04]

A federal judge refused on Friday to give I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby access to a wide range of information from several government agencies, saying he would not allow the former White House aide's trial in the CIAleak case to become a debate over the war in Iraq.

You want to try the legitimacy of us going to war," U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton told lawyers for Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff. "I don't see how that will help us determine whether Mr. Libby lied when he talked to the FBI and went before the grand jury."

Walton ordered Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to turn over evidence — if he has any — of when and how
President Bushand Vice President Cheney decided to declassify part of a secret government intelligence report on Iraq so Libby could disclose it to favored reporters in an effort to discredit administration critics in 2003.

The judge also seemed to be leaning toward denying a defense request for documents Fitzgerald has related to the activities of White House adviser Karl Rove, who remains under investigation and will be a defense witness if the prosecutor doesn't call him to testify. Libby, 55, is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to the FBI and a federal grand jury about how he learned about CIA officer Valerie Plameand what he subsequently told reporters about her.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060505/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak

[TomInTib]

1. Good for Walton. However, this will be part of their plea for appeal

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Yes, it's getting better

Getting better all the time....

[wordpix]

3. good news--Judge Walton wants info on BushCheney involvement

re: declassifying "part of a secret government intelligence report on Iraq so Libby could disclose it to favored reporters in an effort to discredit administration critics in 2003."

OK, now to get the BushCo CEO and CFO, * and CheneyFudd.

:bounce: :toast:

[Judi Lynn]

4. Oh, this is just heartbreaking! Maybe not.

This brave little _Bush enabler will just have to forge ahead, lord love him, and give it his best shot.

[rodeodance]

5. the judge is right--this case is about Libby lying to the Prosecutor--that

has to be proved first by Fitz. and yes, it ultimately is about the war and how it started, yet. Fitz is arguing his case narrowly. That is how he will win.

[MGKrebs]

6. "evidence...of when and how Bush... decided to declassify a secret report"

I would love to see that evidence too.

[Pithy Cherub]

7. Scooters defense is now comprised of flotsam & jetsam.

The wreckage of his defense is continuing and soon he will come face to face with a federal and/or game show Truth. Deal or No Deal. :rofl:

[brentspeak]

8. Will some prosecutor offer this guy a deal?

Spill the goods on Cheney and Rove, and you'll get a much reduced sentence. Otherwise, you're going upriver for a looooong time.

[lovuian]

9. No records just tell the truth Scooter!!!

:rofl: