Posted on 10/24/2005 6:28:34 PM PDT by nj26
I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheneys chief of staff, first learned about the C.I.A. officer at the heart of the leak investigation in a conversation with Mr. Cheney weeks before her identity became public in 2003, lawyers involved in the case said Monday.
Notes of the previously undisclosed conversation between Mr. Libby and Mr. Cheney on June 12, 2003, appear to differ from Mr. Libbys testimony to a federal grand jury that he initially learned about the C.I.A. officer, Valerie Wilson, from journalists, the lawyers said.
The notes, taken by Mr. Libby during the conversation, for the first time place Mr. Cheney in the middle of an effort by the White House to learn about Ms. Wilsons husband, Joseph C. Wilson IV, who was questioning the administrations handling of intelligence about Iraqs nuclear program to justify the war.
Lawyers said the notes show that Mr. Cheney knew that Ms. Wilson worked at the C.I.A. more than a month before her identity was made public and her undercover status was disclosed in a syndicated column by Robert D. Novak on July 14, 2003.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Any charge against anyone in any related to the exposure of the traitor Valarie Plame is treasonous at its core and anyone who cooperates in such an act is themselves a traitor or, at the least, a party to treason.
No. And they both have clearance to receive this information.I have never seen stupider threads on FR than this one.
Never,
Libby and Cheney were both entitled to see classified information. The question is whether Libby conveyed this to others--and he didn't. And whether Libby lied about it. Since he turned over those notes, that would be a difficult charge to sustain.
Not true. I saw a article in August that year in USA today that said the documents were fakes.
The NY Times reports that Libby's notes reflect a conversation between the Vice President and Libby on June 12, 2003.
Nicholas Kristof quoted Wilson on May 6, 2003 in the New York Times; "I'm told by a person involved in the Niger caper that more than a year ago the vice president's office asked for an investigation of the uranium deal, so a former U.S. ambassador to Africa was dispatched to Niger."
Reporters knew Wilson long before 6/12/03, and it is entirely possible that Libby learned about him and his wife before then from reporters, just like he said. That would not stop Libby from noting what the VP told him later on.
Because the desperate left is playing a game of 'Gotcha', and they 'think' they've GOT something on Cheney now. If they can't get Rove, they'll settle for one they hate almost as much. They're hoping a crime was created during the investigation, if nothing else.
At least, that's my take on it. If I'm incorrect, I'd appreciate someone clueing me in here.
"If Libby was cleared to recieve the information then why is it relevent who told him?"
This whole thing is so ridiculous and the leftists are only giving aid and comfort to the enemy for trying to take down president George W. Bush. I pray that Libby and Rove are not charged or indicted for anything and that the leftists like Schmuck Schumer and his ilk are destroyed. We are in a war.
You're right there. But this has been going on for some time now. Remember Larry Johnson? Methinks he is a rat in pub's clothing. Found this article from just over two years ago. The lefties were salivating at the thought of nailing Cheney OR Rove even back THEN. Note the part that mentions Cheney pressing the info re: Atta's meeting with an Iraqi spy in Prague. And of course, all of that was dismissed and poo-pooed by certain factions. Anti-Bush factions?
Suspicion centers on Lewis Libby
Dick Cheney's chief of staff helped hype the Iraq threat and discredit Joe Wilson. But while the White House has denied Karl Rove is the leaker, so far it's left Libby twisting slowly in the wind.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Eric Boehlert
Oct. 3, 2003 | Criminal leak investigations are notoriously futile, and the identity of the administration officials who illegally blew the cover of CIA operative Valerie Plame may never be known. But one name keeps coming up, and so far it hasn't provoked a specific, emphatic White House denial: Lewis "Scooter" Libby, assistant to the president and Vice President Dick Cheney's powerful chief of staff.
On Wednesday the New York Daily News reported that "Democratic congressional sources said they would like to hear from Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis Libby." On MSNBC's "Buchanan and Press" on Wednesday, Pat Buchanan asked an administration critic who claims to know the leaker's name point blank if "Scooter Libby" was the culprit (the critic wouldn't answer). And Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska made a veiled reference on CNBC this week, suggesting that President Bush could better manage the current crisis by "sitting down with [his] vice president and asking what he knows about it."
But below the surface there's even more chatter. Says one former senior CIA officer who served under President Bush's father, "Libby is certainly suspect No. 1."
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/libby.html
It has smelled like an elaborate Rat set-up from the get-go. Unfortunately, since Bush didn't bother to clean house after taking office, he's having to deal with the end result of these infestations. Too bad Bush didn't call the pest exterminator/hammer to rid himself of them, eh?
And btw, who ever (in their right mind) accused the leftist Dems of having a clean conscience? Much less CARING about having one. They've wanted Bush, Cheney, Rove, or Condi's (anyone they can get) head on a platter. They've been chanting 'Impeach Bush & Co.' for years now. Just look at what Rather was willing to do. Look at what Earle is willing to do. Do you really think they'd let a little thing like a 'clean conscience' keep them from doing what is necessary to obtain their fondest desires?
I don't.
"This Wilson thing smells rotten."
I think we are talking about two different things. The original confidentiality letter may have been OK with Fitz. But it wasn't sufficient for Miller. Why?
Exactly. Fitzgerald should already be doing this - unless, perhaps, the "leaks" are so far from the truth that there's no need to bother with them.
Who knows and who cares? The letter from Fitz to Tate quotes the judge in the case as saying Miller "has her own key", something to that effect.
He was and the Senate acquitted him.
You are absolutely correct. However, if his staff the leaked this info to the press, it is highly unlikely they did no know her covert status (whether it was an appropriate status is debatable, but irrelevant). Thus, it would be a criminal act to leak the info to the press.
If the "staff" leaked this without knowing the convert status or identity it would fall short of, by a mile, of the IIPA.
Grand jury leaking about a leak investigation. Who is going to step up and grill them for 2 years in hopes their recollection will change enough to indict them in obstruction?
Whoever it is, just *happened* to bump into Novak on the street and struck up a conversation with Novak about Wilson/Niger BEFORE Novak's article was written.
Wilson wrote about the encounter in his book. It doesn't pass the smell test at ALL.
I agree, but if the info came from Tenant, instead of a reporter as first claimed, I find it difficult to believe they did not know her covert status.
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