Bulletin from the Libby Courtroom (NRO Corner)

NRO Corner ^ | Byron York

[Republican Red]

Lewis Libby defense lawyer Theodore Wells told a federal judge a short time ago that the Libby defense team has located “five witnesses who will say under oath that Mr. [Joseph] Wilson told them his wife worked for the CIA.”

Wells said he expects that prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will call Wilson himself to the stand to rebut those accusations.

Today's hearing concerning what evidence Fitzgerald is required to turn over to the Libby defense team turned into an extended discussion of whether jurors will be allowed to assess Joseph Wilson's credibility vs. that of the administration as it concerns the reasons the U.S. went to war in Iraq. Prosecutor Fitzgerald told the court, "We don't want to try the war. The courtroom is not a reasonable place to try the war. Judge Reggie Walton seemed to agree, saying, "I'm not going to let this case end up being a judicial examination of the legitimacy of the war."

In the hearing, prosecutor Fitzgerald suggested that he would offer the Libby defense team some proof that Valerie Plame Wilson's status at the CIA was classified. But as he had said earlier, Fitzgerald again said, "We will not offer any proof of actual damages" caused by the revelation of Plame's identity, although Fitzgerald said "the issue of potential damage will come up several times" in the trial.

[jazusamo]

It would be poetic justice if she would have to spend the bulk of her earnings from the book on legal fees for Joe to keep him out of jail for his capers.

[sono]

Could Bob Novak be one of them?

[Republican Red]

Maybe Andrea Mitchell?

[Shermy]

"Judge Reggie Walton seemed to agree, saying, "I'm not going to let this case end up being a judicial examination of the legitimacy of the war.""

How about an examination of specifically Wilson's claims?

The prosecutor doesn't want this because it gives an explanation to Libby's acts. Not just the Niger claim, but Joe's claims about the forgeries, etc.

[Cautor]

Fitzasshole probably has the CIA's internal phonebook with Val's name in it, and the phone book is stamped "classified." Boy I'm impressed. I suspect Fitz is angling for the AG job should Hitlery get elected.

[norwaypinesavage]

"If Wilson outed his wife, how would that affect the charge?"

It establishes that the issue of Plame being an undercover agent is such a trivial matter that Libby wouldn't bother to remember what he said about her status.

[Dolphy]

Oh, oh...this will mean to Fitzgerald that Wilson is part of the White House conspiracy :)

[BurbankKarl]

Once the jury hears of an inside-the-CIA conspiracy to discredit the President, Libby will walk. The charges against him have nothing to do with the original probe. I want to see all those reporters up there squirming too.

[jazusamo]

I agree and hope that's what happens.

[Just mythoughts]

I do not think it was Joe Wilson or his gal Val's idea for this trip. I think that these two were instructed to set up this gig and Wilson was selected because he had made the trip before.

Reason because there was the attempt to claim initially that the trip was responsive to Vice President Cheney's questioning and his unmitigated audacity to go personally to the CIA.

Further with Rockefeller's admission about him warning Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia personally in January 2002 means there was some heavy lifting by powers higher than the CIA to protect Saddam.

The Wilsons on the one hand claiming they did not set up the trip have been only slightly but not boldly slapped down as setting in motion Joe Wilson's selection and travel. Were this have been done by a 'conservative' say like an Oliver North the liberals would have already called for hearings and set up the hangman's noose on the capital steps. However, these Republicans in Congress who are in leadership positions of oversight of the CIA appear to be quite content in letting the liberal masterminds make them and this case look like a coat of fading whitewash.

[Mike Darancette]

Libby's defense that he was legitimately confused about how he learned of Plame's status and, thus, didn't intentionally lie to the GJ or FBI about it.

Best explanation I've read as to why who knew about Plame first is critical to libby's defense.

[nopardons]

Thanks for the ping. :-)

[Carling]

Bush had better put the heat on Gonzalez to end this witch hunt.

If not, buhbye majorities in '08. Maybe even '06. I didn't work my ass off to fold over when the media turned up the heat.

[piasa]

....this is a screwy case...you got that right..I've often wondered if all of us are being "distracted" from other more important issues....

How come all the leaks from this Grand Jury case but no leaks from the related Grand Jury case looking at the leaks by reporters concerning the Global Relief & Holy Land terror charities?

[Kimberly GG]

"Libby defense team has located “five witnesses who will say under oath that Mr. [Joseph] Wilson told them his wife worked for the CIA.”

I'll bet we can name all five of them. But I would think that their testimony is irrelevant. No?

[Kimberly GG]

"The Wilsons had a media openhouse at their residence before the Novak story was published. How can they claim the Administration outted her if they had reporters over for 4th of July bar-be-que? "

I heard about this bar-be-que, but did I miss something? Did they admit to reporters that she was CIA?

[Wristpin]

I'm sure the subject was never broached...wink!

[Kimberly GG]

Personally, I think Libby's confusion and lapse of memory lies in the fact that her being CIA was probably so commonly known that no one would have made mental note of it.

[Kimberly GG]

If not, buhbye majorities in '08. Maybe even '06. I didn't work my ass off to fold over when the media turned up the heat."

I'll bet our troops (who, imo, would be forced to surrender) would be saying the same thing!

[Kimberly GG]

Haha......Of course not! Remember this?


CIA couple outed by 5-year-old son
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1548856/posts