At Libby Trial, Russert of NBC Gives and Gets

NY Times ^ | 2/07/07 | Neil Lewis and David Johnston

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 — The prosecution in the perjury trial of I. Lewis Libby Jr. neared the end of its case Wednesday with a final dramatic flourish — putting Tim Russert of NBC News on the witness stand to deliver what could be a serious blow to Mr. Libby’s defense.

Nevertheless, Mr. Russert, who is accustomed to asking tough questions of his guests on “Meet the Press,” found himself in the clearly uncomfortable role of being the subject of tough questions during a cross-examination by Mr. Libby’s defense lawyer.

Mr. Russert, whose signature technique in interrogating officials on his television program includes confronting them with documents and texts of previous quotes, found the technique used on him. A defense lawyer displayed documents on a large television screen in the courtroom as he challenged Mr. Russert’s recollection of events.

The cross-examinationis expected to conclude on Thursday. He is the last of 10 witnesses who testified in 10 days of trial in which the prosecution has tried to show that Mr. Libby lied repeatedly to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and a federal grand jury about how he learned about the Central Intelligence Agency operative at the heart of the leak case.

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Mr. Russert, the moderator of “Meet the Press,” was unequivocal in his testimony that no such conversation with Mr. Libby occurred. But when Mr. Libby’s chief defense lawyer, Theodore V. Wells Jr., began his efforts to disparage Mr. Russert’s reliability in cross-examination, Mr. Russert’s confident demeanor changed abruptly.

NY Times gives its take on the Potato-head testimony.

[Suzy Quzy]

Hope Russert wears a diaper tomorrow!

[AcesFullMike]

I envy the jurors being spared having to hear about the Buffalo Bills.

[Kryptonite]

This is all so much ado about nothing. Yawn.

Fitzfong couldn't prove that Plame was covert, so he's doing his perjury trap thing. I hope that he's ground into pulp in the public's eye for what he's done to a loyal patriot in Libby, and I hope it starts with either an acquittal or a pardon.

[Jack Black]

NY Times: spin, spin, spin !!

After the prosecution concludes its case, Mr. Libby’s lawyers will face a daunting task in trying to undo it. The prosecutor, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, has offered a straightforward case in which the jurors have heard from numerous witnesses supporting the charges against Mr. Libby.

Unlike the infant NY Times readers who need their facts run through a blender on puree, some of us have actually been watching this trial. In fact almost every witness has been effectively countered by the defense who have shown that they can not recall details, have misstated facts, and have changed their stories in the years since the events took place. The case is anything but straitforward, and the witnesses have been obviously led by the prosection, and have held up poorly under cross examination.

Is there reasonable doubt? COULD Scooter Libby have simply mis-remembered which person told him the not very secret factoid that Ms. Plame was a society-spy? YES! Absolutely. Has the prosectuion shown beyond a reasonable doubt the Mr. Libby LIED, and did not simple remember things differently. NO, in my opinion, they have NOT.

Thus I believe, based on the public testimony, that he will be found NOT GUILTY, or at least get a hung jury.

The NY Times is a dispicible propaganda piece for socialists, and are not to be trusted to report the news fairly.

Remember Jason Blair!

Remember Walter Duranty

[Howlin]

NY Times Scooter Spin!!!

[PeskyOne]

Thanks for all the pings, Howlin! They really save me a lot of time having to search for the interesting reports.

[Lancey Howard]

The prosecution is wrapping up its case and we have yet to see the defense begin ITS case, so I would say things are looking pretty good for Scooter right now.

[PeskyOne]

Should be "not having to search!"

[onyx]

Bump and *sigh*

[weegee]

Why isn't Fitz charging all of his own witnesses with perjury for poor testimony?

[Howlin]

Glad to do it; I keep hoping one of you all will write a real long synopsis so I can finally get the WHOLE picture here.......LOL.

They're coming fast and furious now!

[Enchante]

"...said Richard Ben-Veniste, a prominent lawyer in Washington who has attended the trial."

Now there's a scumbag we haven't heard from in a while..... as a leading "fixer" for the Demagogues, Ben Veniste could very well be one of the people who have manipulated this Plamegate fiasco behind the scenes. I wonder, is he attending the trial out of mere curiosity as a private citizen (I wonder how many zillion-dollar-per-hour DC attorneys ever attend trials with which they have no professional involvement), or has he been "involved" in this case for a long time? I suspect the latter, merely based upon his unexpected appearance, but of course I have no idea how this scumbag currently spends his days and nights.

[Ingtar]

and the one he was so adamant about contradicts his statemtne to the FBI early in the timeline.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

What, no crutches on the way out? He's been healed! Thank the Lawd, he been healed!

[Red Steel]

Hope Russert wears a diaper tomorrow!

LoL!

[MNbelle]

Thanks for the pings, Howlin. I would miss some of these if it weren't for you.

[L.N. Smithee]

Richard Ben-Veniste is a Clintonoid sycophant of the first magnitude. In the 9/11 Commission hearings, I was incensed when he tried to cut off Condoleezza Rice to improperly frame her answer about Richard Clarke's overblown Bin Laden memo. That's why whenever I hear the name Ben-Veniste, I think "Bent-Peniste."

[DJ Frisat]

"Mr. Russert, who is accustomed to asking tough questions of his Republican guests on “Meet the Press...”

There - fixed it...

[Miss Marple]

Thanks for the ping, Howlin!

Let's not forget that Ben-Veniste was also heavily involved in the impeachment hearings against Richard Nixon. I would not be surprised if he and Mrs. Clinton had a master plan to get Cheney and then go after President Bush. Like others, I would not be surprised if he is coordinating with Fitzgerald.