Interesting Libby\Plame Tidbit Here: (Anybody Know What It Means?)

[WillyT]

<snip>

What's Next: Both sides await a ruling as to whether Libby should be granted access to the classified documents and whether the case should be dismissed. Also, the lead investigator in the Plame case, Philadelphia-based FBI agent John C. Eckenrode, plans to retire early next month. Eckenrode is likely to be a key witness in Libby's trial, scheduled for January.

<snip>

Link: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/13961519.htm

:shrug:

[seemslikeadream]

1. The lead investigator

now a key witness??

[H2O Man]

4. Sure.

The charges that Scooter is indicted for include two felony counts of lying to this investigator.

[seemslikeadream]

7. Of Course!

[Emit]

2. More on this here

Phila.'s FBI chief, part of CIA-leak case, leavingJohn C. Eckenrode was the lead investigator in probing the '03 disclosure of Valerie Plame's name.By John ShiffmanInquirer Staff WriterThe senior FBI agent in Philadelphia, who is also lead investigator in the CIA-leak case, will retire at the end of the month, officials said yesterday.

John C. Eckenrode, special agent in charge, will leave the FBI in early March, concluding a 32-year career with the bureau. He will become a director of forensic support services for the consulting firm KPMG.

~snip~

Though he ran the nation's ninth-largest FBI division, Eckenrode is best known as the chief investigator for Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is probing the 2003 leak of then-CIA employee Valerie Plame's name by Bush administration officials to journalists. The leak was allegedly made to discredit her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who had written a newspaper column that accused Bush of exaggerating Iraq's threat.
Eckenrode is still expected to be a key witness next year during the trial of the only person charged in the case, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff. Libby is charged with perjury before a grand jury and lying to federal agents. Eckenrode is the agent who conducted the Libby interviews, and his investigative report is cited in Libby's indictment.

When Fitzgerald announced the Libby indictment last year in Washington - with Eckenrode by his side - the prosecutor said the case was continuing.
Fitzgerald yesterday described Eckenrode as "invaluable... a key leader on a team effort, a delight to work with, a terrific agent who rolls up his sleeves and gets the job done."

~snip~

"I admired the way he showed the energy and hustle of a rookie coming out of the academy," Fitzgerald said. "For two years, he gave it everything he had."

Joseph A. Tate, one of Libby's lawyers, said he was surprised by Eckenrode's retirement but didn't think it would affect the case.
Tate called Eckenrode "very fair and very thorough - what an agent should be."

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Gloir6qZoV8J:www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/13882747.htm+John+C.+Eckenrode&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[FearofFutility]

3. As for the classified documents

If the White House doesn't turn over the documents, the defense can declare a mistrial or if he's convicted without them, there is a basis for appeal after appeal. That's my understanding from what I've read.

[H2O Man]

5. Nope.

Defense attorneys can not declare mistrials. Judges can, but the judge in this case shows no indication of planing to support the request for the PDB.

[FearofFutility]

6. O.K.

I guess the article I read was inaccurate.

I just re-read the article. It says the defense can "claim" not "declare" a mistrial. My bad.

[Missy Vixen]

8. I'm not sure

>Also, the lead investigator in the Plame case, Philadelphia-based FBI agent John C. Eckenrode, plans to retire early next month.<

In my opinion, it's a huge loss, but I have to believe it may have been discussed among the team working on the CIA leak case for some time now and just not talked about publicly. I'd also like to believe that Special Agent Eckenrode wouldn't leave unless he knew that there was someone equally as capable to step into his shoes. According to Friday's hearing, the investigation continues.

Special Agent Eckenrode will still be testifying at Scooter's trial. According to firedoglake's ReddHead, the information trickling out of last Friday's hearing makes it clear that the judge in the case is proceeding in the manner he would if the case was going to trial -- "let's make a deal" time seems to be over.

Julie