Libby lawyer to argue Bush's role in leak at trial

[sabra]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/6/worldupdates/2006-05-06T042721Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-247929-1&sec=Worldupdates

Libby lawyer to argue Bush's role in leak at trial

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The lawyer for former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby said on Friday he would argue that his client revealed intelligence on Iraq after Vice President Dick Cheney authorized it and President George W. Bush declassified the information.

At a hearing on what documents the prosecution must turn over to the defense, lawyer Theodore Wells also said he believed there may be testimony or statements by Bush and Cheney that the disclosure of the intelligence was authorized.

...

Wells also said he planned to attack the credibility of Wilson, a former ambassador. He said he planned to call five witnesses who would say that Wilson told them about his wife working at the CIA.

...

Wells also said top White House aide Karl Rove would likely be a defense witness at the trial and the prosecutor must turn over information about Rove, who remains under investigation.

[babylonsister]

1. Whatever it takes! nt

[rodeodance]

2. Fitz agrees the intel was declassifies but did not know when this occured

......The trial is scheduled to begin in January, keeping alive an issue that has dogged the White House for months.

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said he already turned over the relevant documents. Fitzgerald said he agreed with the defense the intelligence had been declassified, but did not know precisely when that happened.

The leak occurred at a time when opponents were stepping up their criticism of the March 2003 invasion after U.S. forces had failed to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Wells also said he planned to attack the credibility of Wilson, a former ambassador. He said he planned to call five witnesses who would say that Wilson told them about his wife working at the CIA.

[peacetalksforall]

3. You get a feeling about a person and it's often right?

Well, it's hard for me to believe this about Wilson -

"Wells also said he planned to attack the credibility of Wilson, a former ambassador. He said he planned to call five witnesses who would say that Wilson told them about his wife working at the CIA."

Do you think that he would tell five different people who would later become witnesses against him that his wife was a a cover agent of the CIA?

He appears to be pretty savvy and he has 20 some years of diplomatic duty?

I can't wait to hear who the five are? Darn I wish it next was New Years Eve so I wouldn 't have to wait so long. I think they said the trial starts in Jan?

[louis-t]

12. His next door neighbors (good friends) didn't even know.

[Kagemusha]

4. Wait a minute, wait a minute...

What law says that just because Libby lea... revealed intelligence on Iraq, that gives him the right to lie about it to the FBI and in front of a grand jury?

Edit: And where does Wilson revealing his wife's identity and thus committing a serious crime - even if true - authorize Libby to lie about what he knew and when he knew it and from whom, to the FBI and to a grand jury, twice to both?

[boddhi]

11. precisely the issue, Kagemusha

sounds like someone forgot to tell the defense that the charges have nothing to do with the leak of classified or declassified information. it has to do with covering it up in front of the grand jury. i'm actually surprised the defense is even able to call joe wilson - doesn't seem to be germane to the case at all....

[Maraya1969]

17. Good point. That is how they got Clinton.

[Demobrat]

5. I could have sworn the guy was going to trial for perjury.

Not leaking classified information.

[sabra]

13. this is getting interesting...

[maddezmom]

6. putting the screws to Rove

:evilgrin:

[Peace Patriot]

7. Wilson revealing wife's covert status to five people? That should be

of interest to the special prosecutor. Think he's going to indict Wilson?

:rofl:

Sounds like Libby is pretty desperate.

I have a thought on this (seems to me) premature announcement by Libby's lawyers that they're going to call Rove. If Fitzgerald indicts Rove, then Rove can't testify--peril of self-incrminiation--right? So Libby can say an important witness on his behalf can't testify--and thus try to moot his trial, or have an appeal issue. ???

--was trying to figure out what's on Libby's lawyers' minds, re Rove. Are they trying to intimidate Rove, to keep him from squealing? He has no love for Libby, as I understand it--although that may be B.S.--they could be in collusion.

"...the prosecutor must turn over information about Rove, who remains under investigation." Right. In your dreams, Scooter.

[gulliver]

14. If true, I still don't see how it would be admissable.

Libby isn't charged with revealing Wilson's wife's covert status. He is charged with obstruction, perjury, and making false statements.

[leesa]

8. Invoking the GOP 'They do it too' defense! Funny.

[BR_Parkway]

9. Libby's lawyer forgets to say "My client didn't commit perjury or obstruct

the investigation".

The only two things he's charged with - all he says is what his client did or didn't do in relation to everything else in the world. But there's been no charge that the info was illegally revealed because it was classified.

[MGKrebs]

10. Fishing for a pardon. eom.

[Rex]

15. That's I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Get it right!

:evilgrin:

[Missy Vixen]

16. Happy to offer the 5th recommendation

>Wells also said top White House aide Karl Rove would likely be a defense witness at the trial and the prosecutor must turn over information about Rove, who remains under investigation.<

This is IMHO, YMMV, but it's going to be difficult for Mr. Rove to testify. I think he'll be in prison by then.

Julie
president for life of the PFEB

[grasswire]

18. but wait -- the case against Libby isn't the leak

It's the lying about the coverup to the investigators.

So all this bluster about Wilson testifying is simply theatrics and a form of blackmail.

Whether or not Plame's identity was declassified is IMMATERIAL to the case against Libby.

For precedent, see U.S. v. Martha Stewart.

[patriothackd]

20. Right.

:puffpiece:

But how many Americans will read between the lines like you just did?

[Imagevision]

19. I hope Libby's lawyer places blame in Bush/Cheny offices!

[WhiteTara]

21. they keep pretending that he was charged

with leaking. None of that has to do with lying and obstruction. Same goes for KKKarl.