I understand, but the underlying issue---as is now clear in the statements of the jury---is that Libby was "covering up" for Rove/Cheney, and so at some point the essential TRUTH of the case had to be stated on record, under oath. And a smart laywer could have done that.
Didnt Libby's lawyer come out with something about Cheney? Problem is three days before talking with Russert, Libby asked Fleischer to leak Plames identity to the press.