Posted on 10/30/2005 3:43:25 PM PST by Brian Mosely
Edited on 10/30/2005 4:02:24 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN OCT 30, 2005 18:31:21 ET XXXXX
PROSECUTOR PLANS ON CALLING CHENEY AS WITNESS IN OPEN COURT; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE FIGHT LOOMS
**Exclusive**
Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is planning to call Vice President Dick Cheney as a witness in the trial of Lewis Libby, the DRUDGE REPORT has leaned.
But the high stakes move could result in an executive privilege showdown between the White House and Fitzgerald, a top government source said Sunday.
"If Mr. Fitzgerald is going to demand a public recounting of conversations between the vice president, or even the president, and his staff, on matters he, himself, has acknowledged are 'classified,' executive privilege will obviously be invoked."
Fitzgerald has made it clear to lawyers involved in the case that he prefers Cheney appear as a witness in open court.
"Mr. Fitzgerald is starting from the position that this should not be done on remote or videotape," the well-placed source said.
Fitzgerald and Libby's attorney Joseph Tate discussed possible plea options before the indictment was issued last week, TIME magazine reports in new editions. But the deal was scotched because the prosecutor insisted that Libby do some "serious" jail time.
Developing...
Like Clinton testified in his OWN trial in open court? These lousy hypocrites!
He puts me to sleep quickly.
Fitzgerald already has Libby's notes on this meeting.
Calling the VP, if he's not absolutely necessary for the success of a prosecution (i.e. he's the key eye witness to a murder), is most certainly grandstanding.
I would be very, very leery of allowing this to proceed and not fighting it with all necessary vigor.
of course Fitz would reject a plea, the Dems don't want a plea - this story would be over in 72 hours with a plea. They want this trial, these court challenges, they want it dragged out - and Fitzgerald is giving them what they want.
Time Magazine says he already tried to plead out.
Leaning on Libby to plead guilty is what it's all about.
Does anyone know how much longer his term is. Usually, one would not anticipate a re-appointment after a four year term. This I am not sure of, but some legal egal on the forum should know.
Right, the plea deal involved jail time so was rejected by Libby's team. I suspect the 2 perjury charges will be eventually dropped.
It was not in Libby's best interests to plead guily and go to jail when he can drag this out and get pardoned.
I suspect this is the prosecutor's move to put pressure on the White House for a plea.
However, I really suspect that this is Drudge hyping this story.
Remember FOX, CNN, and MSNBC get good ratings during scandals, even boring ones.
Fitzgerald doesn't have a term, until someone stops him - I have yet to see a post from someone who even knows how to do that.
How does that crackhead Kristof expect the VP's office to ask for a public correction if the true facts of who sent Joe Wilson may be subject to secrecy laws, thus putting us where we are now with a corrected record (the leak) causing a lengthy investigation and indictments. What a pain in he hind quarter!
"NYTIMEs info True? What about the 22 indictments that were going to be handed down? Rove indicted? "
Fox is the only big media that I heard say there was a definite plan to indict Rove.
BTW,do you suppose Fitz would leak the strategy of calling Cheney to pressure Libby to plead guilty?
Designed as "payback" for Clinton's problems a for use as a Political Tool for the Democrat cabal to regain power.
GW should pardon libby and end this partisan witch hunt!
Unfortunately that might give the Dems a fig leaf for drafting articles of impeachment. Not good political strategy. It would look like a cover-up. I need to think about this situation some more but right now Fitzgerald is look to be every thing Ken Starr was accused of being.
That would seem just a little bit self-serving. Besides, doesn't Libby have to be found guilty of something in order to be pardoned?
Bush I issued pardons for Iran/Contra on Christmas Eve 1992, before his term ended. One of those pardoned was Caspar Weinberger-who was indicted on the eve of the 1992 election and didm't go to trial.
"I heard that Fitzgerald has already been promised the Attorney General spot in Hillary!'s administration."
Mr. Fitzgerald better keep his day job. Hitlery spits them out after she's done with them and she never keeps her promises because they are lies. A new word for her is Hitli.
The dems are milking this for everything they can get.I don't see where Libby has done anything wrong.What kind of an outcome do they(democrats)expect that won't ultimately make them look bad?
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.