Posted on 10/28/2005 10:29:03 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
A number of observations tonight from people who know and follow the CIA leak case:
The first is that they view the indictment against Lewis Libby as very strong. One source called it "as clear-cut an indictment" as one would ever see, and the consensus is that Libby is in serious trouble. If Libby lied as much as Fitzgerald accuses him of lying, the sources say, then Libby acted in an astonishingly reckless way.
The observers also suspect that Fitzgerald has some strong but as yet unrevealed evidence to support the centerpiece of his perjury charge against Libby, that is, Libby's testimony to the grand jury about his conversation with NBC's Tim Russert on July 10, 2003, in which Libby swore that it was Russert who told him that Valerie Wilson worked for the CIA:
"Mr. Russert said to me, did you know that Ambassador Wilson's wife, or his wife, works at the CIA? And I said, no, I don't know that. And then he said, yeah – yes, all the reporters know it. And I said, again, I don't know that. I just wanted to be clear that I wasn't confirming anything for him on this. And you know, I was struck by what he was saying in that he thought it was an important fact, but I didn't ask him anymore about it because I didn't want to be digging in on him, and he then moved on and finished the conversation, something like that."
What is striking about the indictment, observers say, is that Fitzgerald does not say simply that Russert has another recollection. Instead, the indictment says:
In truth and fact, as Libby well knew when he gave this testimony, it was false in that: a. Russert did not ask Libby if Libby knew that Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA, nor did he tell Libby that all the reporters knew it; and b. At the time of this conversation, Libby was well aware that Wilson’s wife worked at the CIA...
In another place in the indictment, Fitzgerald states flatly that "Russert did not ask Libby if Libby knew that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA, nor did he tell Libby that all the reporters knew it." That sort of definitiveness has led the observers to suspect that Fitzgerald has some sort of evidence that clearly supports Russert's account of the conversation.
In addition, the observers are unanimously appalled by the performance of Libby's lawyer, Joseph Tate. This is something that has been discussed for quite a while now -- at least since Libby's infamous "the aspens will already be turning" letter to Judith Miller. What lawyer, they ask, would have allowed his client to write and send such a letter -- clearly raising suspicions that Libby was trying to influence testimony and possibly obstruct the investigation? Now, Libby is said to be in the market for a good criminal defense lawyer. If he had done that earlier, the observers say, he might not be in the trouble he is in now.
Another consensus opinion is the cautious belief that Karl Rove might not, ultimately, face any charges. Rove is not mentioned by name in the Libby indictment, and only once by a pseudonym -- "Official A." Although the indictment is not about Rove, the observers get the sense that Rove emerges as a far less important player in the whole affair than Libby; it was Libby, for example, and apparently not Rove, who got in touch with the CIA and the State Department about the Wilson matter. In addition, word is that Rove made some sort of presentation to Fitzgerald in the last days of the investigation that made Fitzgerald less inclined to take action against Rove. What that involved is is not clear.
And finally, many observers of the investigation marvel at what is still not known after nearly two years of probing. Who leaked the story to Robert Novak? What, precisely, was Valerie Wilson's status at the CIA at the time Novak's column revealed her identity? Fitzgerald presumably knows the answers to those questions. But, at least so far, he isn't saying.
look at the thread today with Cooper's own article in it.
"The Wilson part that really interested Fitzgerald was tiny, as I told TIME readers. Basically, I asked Libby if he had heard anything about Wilson's wife having been involved in sending him to Niger. Libby responded with words to the effect of, "Yeah, I've heard that too."
why are all these reporters baiting Rove and Libby with this "have you heard anything about Wilson's wife sending him to Niger" question? Because they know the answer to the question already, its a setup. Its carefully worded of course, but the reason they are asking it - is because they know. Just like David Corn knew.
We will have to wait and see but the original reports were that there was a campaign underway to get the information about Wilson and his wife out. That suggests that at least one other person was putting the information out. In that case, the other person was releasing the info and then Libby was "merely" confirming it.
I dont really have any problem with Cooper and Miller conversations. I thought Libby's biggest liability was with Russert who didnt quible over wording. He said they never discussed the topic. Will be interesting to watch the trial and see what evidence Fitzgerald has.
This gives me one heck of a headache. I'm spinning. Do we know OpenSecrets.org is legit?
Seems to me Libby got caught lying to Fitzgerald about what he said to Russert. that simple. That stupid.
If we see Bob Bennett lurking around Libby or Libby's old law firm, we have our answer.
Re possible leak from Libby to Novak becoming an indictment:
it seems to be clearer and clearer that Fitzgerald
never wanted to indict on leakage, only fibbage.
Leakage would've led to uncovering something the Dept of Justice or somebody else didn't want touched (CIA? Wilson? Plame? Something we don't want other governments to find out?) Fitzgerald ran away from investigating his original 2 directives (outing a covert agent and improper disclosure of national defense info)in about the first month of his investigation, and concentrated solely on fibbage emanating from Libby. Hey- the guy's gotta make a living. Isn't it passing strange that neither Wilson nor Plame was called to testify? Are they about to get targeted by Fitz or are they being protected by him?
Did Russert record his conversation with Libby? He must have for the prosecutor to be so definitive.
Curiouser and curiouser. Marc Rich- the guy who's been fingered as being one of the growing crowd taking bribes from Saddam? Also, Libby defending Denise Rich? One would assume that he's one heck of a lawyer- who never boned up on GJ proceedings??? Who was so flustered by Fitzgerald that he screwed himself into 5 jerky traps by him?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.