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Prosecutor resists access for Libby
The Washington Times ^ | February 18, 2006 | Toni locy

Posted on 02/18/2006 7:47:04 AM PST by Seattle Conservative

Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald suggests that allowing I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby access to the [classified] documents -- many of which Mr. Libby read or wrote while working for Vice President Dick Cheney -- would have a "breathtaking" impact on national security.

In arguments filed late Thursday, Mr. Fitzgerald said Mr. Libby's lawyers were trying to derail the perjury and obstruction case by pressing for nearly a year's worth of presidential daily briefs -- summaries of threats to the U.S. that are among the government's most closely guarded secrets.

Mr. Fitzgerald also asked U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton to protect the ongoing grand jury investigation by not forcing the release of the identities of other "individuals" who discussed a covert CIA officer with reporters in 2003.

In his filings, Mr. Fitzgerald also noted that he was submitting a sworn statement, filed under seal with Judge Walton, detailing his reasons for keeping secret the names of people who talked to reporters, for keeping secret the names of others involved in the investigation, and his strategy in the ongoing grand jury probe.

>snip

Mr. Fitzgerald accused Mr. Libby of attempting to commit "graymail," >snip

Mr. Libby's lawyers want the secret briefings prepared for President Bush in order to show that Mr. Libby had more pressing matters on his mind than the disclosure of Mrs. Plame's identity.

Mr. Fitzgerald dismissed Mr. Libby's "preoccupation defense," saying the prosecution already has given defense attorneys more than 11,000 pages of classified and unclassified evidence -- more than required under law.

>snip

Mr. Libby also is seeking access to more information about news reporters, CIA records about Mrs. Plame and any damage assessments of the public disclosure of her identity to national security

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; cheney; cia; cialeak; fitzgerald; flame; judgewalton; libby; plame; scooter
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They had to get Rove's name in their, too:

"The filing does not reveal whether presidential adviser Karl Rove remains under scrutiny. Mr. Fitzgerald also does not indicate whether he is investigating Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward's source, whose existence was revealed after Mr. Libby was indicted last year."

1 posted on 02/18/2006 7:47:05 AM PST by Seattle Conservative
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To: Seattle Conservative

Mr. Fitzgerald must have watched "My Cousin Vinnie"


2 posted on 02/18/2006 7:49:26 AM PST by TexasTransplant (NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET)
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To: Seattle Conservative

"many of which Mr. Libby read or wrote"

My breath is being taken by Mr. Fitzgerald's argument, in addition to not being a witness against yourself he has now included not being a witness for yourself.


3 posted on 02/18/2006 7:52:14 AM PST by pepperdog
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To: Seattle Conservative
Mr. Libby has one of the best attorneys in the world, and an excellent criminal defense attorney is a thing to behold. And more power to him. Let's face it, this charge is unrelated to the original issue, and Fitzgerald is gaming the system at least as much as the defense.

Just maybe this country needed Mr. Libby dealing with national security threats in the White House, more than it needs to prosecute him for not remembering something in one of his notes.

4 posted on 02/18/2006 7:52:31 AM PST by Williams
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To: Seattle Conservative

Looks like Fitz is claiming executive privilage.


5 posted on 02/18/2006 7:53:38 AM PST by Gunflint
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To: Gunflint

Is Fitzwater being out lawyered?


6 posted on 02/18/2006 7:56:57 AM PST by bybybill (If the Rats win, we are doomed)
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To: Gunflint
Looks like Fitz is claiming executive privilage.

It does at that...

7 posted on 02/18/2006 7:57:16 AM PST by madison46 (Would Dems in 1905 be running on ideas from 1835? That's what they do now.)
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To: Seattle Conservative

Libby will be cleared on all charges and the story will be located on page 29D.


8 posted on 02/18/2006 7:59:40 AM PST by G Larry (Only strict constructionists on the Supreme Court!)
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To: Seattle Conservative
This nonsense is now beyond bizarre.
To me Fitz is in effect saying;
He's guilty because I say so. And I don't know what crime was actually committed if any because I don't have any evidence, but that's irrelevant, he's guilty of 'something'."

So please, someone get him a pacifier and send him home to his mama.

9 posted on 02/18/2006 8:02:45 AM PST by Condor51 (Better to fight for something than live for nothing - Gen. George S. Patton)
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To: Howlin

Libby ping.


10 posted on 02/18/2006 8:06:08 AM PST by Peach
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To: Seattle Conservative

Let's see, the prosecutor is restricting Libby's access to information he already knows, while at the same time requesting access for himself to even more classified National Security information which he does not already know. I'd ask just what his "need to know" that information is. "Need to know" is determined by the holder of the information, under rules established by the classifying authority) not by the person seeking it. In this case the Classifying Authority is probably the Office of the President, since the information comes from many sources and agencies.


11 posted on 02/18/2006 8:13:14 AM PST by El Gato
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To: Condor51

I think you're exactly right in what Fitzy is saying.

There's also this:
"In his filings, Mr. Fitzgerald also noted that he was submitting a sworn statement, filed under seal with Judge Walton, detailing his reasons for keeping secret the names of people who talked to reporters, for keeping secret the names of others involved in the investigation, and his strategy in the ongoing grand jury probe."

Wonder if he is doing this, because he doesn't want to give away the fact that he never talked to anyone at the CIA or Plame to determine if she was really a covert agent. That's the premise of the case, and if she wasn't, he wouldn't have anything to investigate, therefore, he couldn't make a name for himself and help his career. One could hope that Plame and Wilson are 2 of those under investigation, but I'm skeptical. Though, maybe he's covering his steps and backtracking and investigating that now (especially since there have been some questions about this, primarily from the right).



12 posted on 02/18/2006 8:18:52 AM PST by Seattle Conservative (God bless and protect our troops and their CIC.)
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To: Peach; Howlin

Thanks Peach! I knew someone was keeping a Fitzy ping list, but couldn't remember who it was.


13 posted on 02/18/2006 8:22:06 AM PST by Seattle Conservative (God bless and protect our troops and their CIC.)
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To: A Citizen Reporter; AliVeritas; alnick; AmericaUnited; Anti-Bubba182; arasina; BobS; Carolinamom; ..

Scooter ping!


14 posted on 02/18/2006 8:23:48 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: Seattle Conservative
"In his filings, Mr. Fitzgerald also noted that he was submitting a sworn statement, filed under seal with Judge Walton, detailing his reasons for keeping secret the names of people who talked to reporters, for keeping secret the names of others involved in the investigation, and his strategy in the ongoing grand jury probe."

Fitz is making it probable that his agents (and maybe himself) will be called as witnesses.

15 posted on 02/18/2006 8:35:12 AM PST by Mike Darancette (Condimaniac)
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To: Condor51
Fitzgerald is such a BUFFOON. He's getting caught stark naked big time. He's always extremely evasive and will be exposed.
16 posted on 02/18/2006 8:43:07 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: Condor51
To me Fitz is in effect saying;

He's guilty because I say so. And I don't know what crime was actually committed if any because I don't have any evidence, but that's irrelevant, he's guilty of 'something'."

The same standard of guilt the media and the DNC applies to conservatives. No wonder they and Fitz love each other so much.

17 posted on 02/18/2006 8:48:08 AM PST by CFC__VRWC ("Anytime a liberal squeals in outrage, an angel gets its wings!" - gidget7)
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To: Seattle Conservative
by not forcing the release of the identities of other "individuals" who discussed a covert CIA officer with reporters in 2003

Isn't that the whole point?! I thought Fitzgerald said there wasn't any others. I'm so confused! lol!

18 posted on 02/18/2006 8:50:42 AM PST by kcvl
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To: kcvl
I agree with you. Fitz was obstinate during his televised (very nervous) statement in saying that he didn't know anything else...That as far as he could see, Mr. Libby was the culprit who threw sand in his eyes.

Talk about Justice being blind!! This Judge "plays" blind, deaf and dumb...BUT he sure seems to have an Dem serving agenda.

19 posted on 02/18/2006 9:03:08 AM PST by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: albertp; Allosaurs_r_us; Abram; AlexandriaDuke; Americanwolf; Annie03; Baby Bear; bassmaner; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
20 posted on 02/18/2006 9:20:22 AM PST by freepatriot32 (Holding you head high & voting Libertarian is better then holding your nose and voting republican)
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