That's the only way to understand what the charges are really about.
By making it seem that the only way reporters could have learned Plame was CIA was through Libby, he makes it appear that Libby was lying.
READ THE INDICTMENT!! Your statement is NOT CORRECT - that is not what the false statement and perjury charges are about AT ALL!
If anyone is going to talk about this it all, they really need to read the indictment!! I see too many people characterizing this as a "he said, they said" with Libby saying one thing and reporters (specifically Russert) saying another. THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL!! Excuse me for shouting, but we here at FR really should be more informed - it's something we pride ourselves on, but it's just not happening in this case.
I'll say it one more time. Libby directly told the FBI and the Grand Jury that when he was talking to reporters (Miller, Russert, etc.) he did not know that Plame worked for the FBI. Fitzgerald includes a timeline in the indictment that outlines what Libby knew about Plame, who he heard it from, and when he heard it. From that timeline it is totally clear that Libby absolutely and positively knew that Plame worked for the CIA at the time he was talking with reporters about the situation. That is why he is being indicted - because the evidence blatantly contradicts his statements to the FBI and the Grand Jury about what he knew about Plame's employment by the CIA and when he knew it!
And I am NOT getting that. What I am reading is that Libby was playing dumb with the reporters. Which is not a crime.
So tell me - if you said under oath that you told Tim Russert that you didn't know that Plame was CIA when you did, is that perjury?
I've read the indictment. Printed it out and am going to read it again and mark it up. But I still think Fitz simply got cute here by making it perjury that Libby said to Russert that he did not know - when it is NOT a crime to lie to a reporter.
Did you mean to say Plame worked for the CIA ?