Posted on 09/22/2006 4:31:41 PM PDT by Laverne
Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff plans to take the stand at his upcoming trial to tell jurors that he never lied to investigators in the CIA leak case, defense attorneys said Friday.
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is charged with perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI about his conversations in 2003 with reporters regarding Valerie Plame's CIA job.
Prosecutors say Libby is trying to torpedo the criminal case by demanding the use of classified information that is too sensitive to be released at trial. It's a tactic known as "graymail" and the goal is to get a case dismissed.
Libby plans to testify about President Bush's daily terrorism briefings and other classified information to persuade jurors that he had more important things on his mind at the time and didn't remember his discussions with reporters, attorneys said in court papers filed Friday evening.
"Mr. Libby must be able to discuss classified information to give the jury an accurate picture of his state of mind during the relevant time period and to show the jury that any errors he made in his statements and testimony were the product of confusion, mistake and faulty memory rather than deliberate misrepresentations," defense attorneys wrote.
The documents were filed as part of Libby's bid to use classified information at his trial in January. Prosecutors oppose the use of many documents, saying sensitive government secrets will get out.
Plame believes her CIA status was revealed as retribution for her husband's accusation that the Bush administration had twisted prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat. Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, discounted reports that the regime of Saddam Hussein had an agreement with the African nation of Niger to buy uranium yellowcake as part of a nuclear weapons program.
Documents regarding Wilson's trip to Niger are among those Libby wants to use at trial, attorneys wrote.
FYI. Howlin, can you ping the Scooter list?
Tim Russert, do you recall the Nixon Tapes?
We do not, in fact, know what Plame "believes" until we get her under oath in a court of law.
I think this is an old story--it's a follow up of the one yesterday about the Judge deciding Libby was entitled to those docs--it's just with AP's special sauce on it.
"Documents regarding Wilson's trip to Niger are among those Libby wants to use at trial,"
These would possibly be the evidence that Joe Wilson told the USG (amd memorialized in writing) one version of his Niger "findings", and soon after went "public" with an entirely different version.
I believe that Plame has said that herself; I think (not sure though) that it is part of the civil suit she has filed. Not to mention, her hubby Joe, has said it numerous times, I think. Anyway, should be interesting reading if we can find the court documents.
OK Thanks.
Well, if there was no there there, it should be no problem declassifying these documents. I suspect Joe Wilson is crapping his pants now if this goes to trial.
Berger, too, I would think....he he
Things are not looking to good for the disloyal opposition these days.
that caught my eye, too ... and I'd bet my bottom dollar she doesn't BELEIVE it for one moment.
We can only hope! Those were not depends he wore out of the National Archives!
That's why these show trials are not going anywhere.
Good!!! Blow the lid off of this thing.
And Fitz has not resigned and dismissed all charges because.....???
Dumb headline. Scooter ain't testifying,
what documents ? Wilson & the CIA admit there was no written report about the actual trip.
documents must be reports & emails leading up to the trip...
Somebody paid for the plane ticket, the hotel, and mint teas... there must be receipts somewhere!
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