Posted on 10/29/2005 3:10:01 AM PDT by YaYa123
Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation took nearly two years, sent a reporter to jail, cost millions of dollars, and preoccupied some of the White House's senior officials. The fruit it has now borne is the five-count indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the Vice President's Chief of Staff--not for leaking the name of Valerie Plame to Robert Novak, which started this entire "scandal," but for contradictions between his testimony and the testimony of two or three reporters about what he told them, when he told them, and what words he used.
Mr. Fitzgerald would not comment yesterday on whether he had evidence for the perjury, obstruction of justice and false statement counts beyond the testimonies of Mr. Libby and three journalists. Instead, he noted that a criminal investigation into a "national security matter" of this sort hinged on "very fine distinctions," and that any attempt to obscure exactly who told what to whom and when was a serious matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
The more we learn, the more it appears Libby was indicted for lying to the media.
As if ELECTED politicians do not lie, 24-7
PARDON SCOOTER!
Old news, nobody cares, time to move on.
I still believe that Fitz should be made to account for how well he has spent hyis time and money. I'd suggest that most of what he has done is basically perpetrate fraud on the taxpayer. His "investigation" was only pointed in one direction. I sure hope he doesn't plan to become a member of the SCOTUS.
On the one hand I'd like to see Libby fight these charges like hell, because I think a good lawyer could at least hang a jury on this using moral suasion.
But having a knock-down, drag-out trial will hurt the country and the president, and he doesn't need that trouble just now.
Sigh.
And to Mr. Fitzgerald. And to the FBI. And to the grand jurors. If Libby intentionally lied under oath, he deserves to be in hot water. I hope Bush continues to take the high road on this case because Mr. Fitzgerald appears to be an outstanding and fair-minded prosecutor.
Bush can always pardon Libby at the end of his term if he believes the facts don't support a conviction or if he wants to give Libby a break. God knows a pardon of Libby would be more warranted than Clinton's pardons for FALN terrorists, Marc Rich, Vignali and that drug-infested brother of his, Roger.
Lets see if Chris has the balz to say it on FOXNews Sunday.
Maybe so, however in point of fact, nothing that Mr. Libby is charged with, as I can see, forwards a criminal or civil violation. In other words, talking to reporters about events which were not under your control, and in a sense reacting to those events by speaking out about them and then trying to recall those statements versus what others will recollect doesn't seem worthy of criminal prosecution. Just my opinion.
Unfortunatly in the delay until a trial, the MSM can say anything they want about the situation to degrade the Bush Administration, before the trial degrades them (MSM)
But to whom is Libby loyal, New One?
Libby received two awards from the Clinton Administration in 1993. Libby worked for/at NSC during Clinton's terms. Libby's massive law firm Dechert Price reeks of "CIA front company" and has only donated campaign money to Democrats.
When reporters wanted scoop from "inside" the Bush White House, they called Scooter Libby.
Frankly, the Bush Administration is better off for having one less leaker in D.C.
...and we still don't know where Libby's loyalties reside.
If Libby hadn't lied or had severe memory loss, much of that taxpayer money could've likely been saved. I was very impressed with Fitzgerald's press conference yesterday, and I think Bush is impressed with Fitzgerald, too, which is why he was appointed in the first place and why the White House hasn't attacked him.
We still don't know who 'outed' Valerie Plame or if she was 'outed' or who told who what? Isn't that why the Special Prosecutor was appointed?
Yep. Although I suspect he spelled that out in his classified addendum, or whatever he called it.
I agree, some of the folks look for ANYTHING when it comes to the President, his staff to use against them.
The WSJ poses the same question that I've been asking all day. What was Libby's motive to lie? In the absence of any crime, why would Libby lie about conversations with Russert and other reporters? It makes no sense. The most likely explanation is that there are differing recollections (which is what Libby's lawyer mentioned in his press release). Contrary to what others have said, I believe these charges with be very difficult to prove in court.
"Perpetrate Fraud on the taxpayer"
What a great line. Think about it for a second. Isn't that what the political class do all the time?
"Outstanding and fair-minded"?!?! Gimme a break. This Fitzgerald clown is a partisan hack in the same vein as Ronny Earle.
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