Libby found Guilty

CNN.com ^ | 03/06/2006

[LM_Guy]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been found guilty on four of five counts in his perjury and obstruction of justice trial.

Libby, 56, faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

Libby was convicted of:

obstruction of justice when he intentionally deceived a grand jury investigating the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame;

making a false statement by intentionally lying to FBI agents about a conversation with NBC newsman Tim Russert;

perjury when he lied in court about his conversation with Russert;

a second count of perjury when he lied in court about conversations with other reporters.

[Southerngl]

>>>just wait until some of the jurors get their 15 minutes of fame, getting interviewed on TV. You will get a look at some profoundly stupid people.>>>

Already happening "Where was Rove? I wish he was here" So Libby got prosecuted because those idiot jurors hate Karl Rove. Jeez, what a country we live in.

[weegee]

Libby was convicted of: obstruction of justice when he intentionally deceived...

Was it proven that it was intentional? Or is this another case of the media selling us DNC talking points?

[Right Cal Gal]

I'm trying to figure out how that jury could have gotten past reasonable doubt on a "he said/he said" - Russert says he did - he says he didn't.

And yes, whoever said it above -- ALWAYS preface the answer to ANY question given under oath with the words "to the BEST of my recollection." First rule of witness prep!

[Nav_Mom]

Why would he pardon Libby when he won't pardon the Border Patrol agents?

tommy: excellent question. I know I'll get a ton of negative feedback for saying this, but GW Bush has been such a disappointment. I'll never forgive him for rehabilitating Bubbah Clinton, when GW placed Bill on the stage of respectability right next to Bush#1 after the Tsunami. It seems that was the beginning of the end for the conservative voice. (sigh)GW has proved to be a RINO in the worst way. IMHO

[Nav_Mom]

Why would he pardon Libby when he won't pardon the Border Patrol agents?

tommy: excellent question. I know I'll get a ton of negative feedback for saying this, but GW Bush has been such a disappointment. I'll never forgive him for rehabilitating Bubbah Clinton, when GW placed Bill on the stage of respectability right next to Bush#1 after the Tsunami. It seems that was the beginning of the end for the conservative voice. (sigh)GW has proved to be a RINO in the worst way. IMHO

[weegee]

He goes to the gulag for decades for offending the Stalinists. "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Republican Party?"

[weegee]

On that basis, Libbhy can get a mistrial. The juror who convicted Libby because he WANTED to convict Rove did not do the duty he was sworn to do.

[B4Ranch]

It is stuff like this that makes me question "Vote Republican". What for? When the White House won't protect the staff from phony prosecutors, just who will they protect? You and me? I don't think so.

[weegee]

Russert is a special breed of human. He's a reporter and reporters "don't lie". They are among the Most Trusted Men In America. < /s >

[stephenjohnbanker]

"When the White House won't protect the staff from phony prosecutors, just who will they protect? You and me? I don't think so."

Not us, as you and I are not illegal drug dealers.

[antiRepublicrat]

And yes, whoever said it above -- ALWAYS preface the answer to ANY question given under oath with the words "to the BEST of my recollection." First rule of witness prep!

Yep, that plus a lot of "I don't remember" would have saved Libby a lot of grief.

[Right Cal Gal]

What will be telling is what comes out of the mouths of the jurors. In these days of reality television, they'll be looking for their 15 minutes of fame (okay, maybe not all, but I'll wager a month's salary some of them will be shopping book deals by noon tomorrow) and won't be able to resist yakking it up. Brenda "Moron" from the OJ Jury made an idiot out of herself on national television and got a juror booted from the Civil trial. Scooter's lawyers should be following every televised interview these people give (I'd LOVE to see Judge Napolitano interview one or two on Fox) and see if a case cannot be made for juror misconduct.

Of course, the motion can also be made post-trial for the judge to set aside the verdict. The post-trial legal wranglings may prove interesting.

[theDentist]

I saw the Juror talking with the press. Maybe *my* memory is faulty, but he mentioned at one point that they knew that Karl Rove had said Plame was CIA, but I don't recall anyone testifying to that, or any proof being offered that Rove said anything like that.

Anyone else know?

[BamaAndy]

You're right--and never be tried in DC.

[paratrooper82]

What in the hell is the under lying crime that raises Libby's case to criminal intent?

Flaming Plame was NOT a covert agent fro the CIA! So, again, I ask, what was the under lying crime that gives rise to the criminal intent, necessary to find Libby guilty of anything? Under this standard of law, anyone can be convicted of any crime, and the Government does not have to prove criminal intent.

[Southerngl]

>>>The jury questioned the judge about what the charges were against Mr. Libby just a few hours before they rendered the guilty verdict...ten days after starting deliberations. This is consistent with the behavior of people who first come to a conclusion of guilt and then attempt to fill in the facts to justify their prejudiced decision.>>>

"Yeah, this guy is a real SOB. He sure is guilty. Guilty Guilty Guilty. Mr. Foreman, you go right out there and say that Scooter Libby is Guilty of... Guilty of... what was it he was charged with again?"

[westmichman]

They will indeed be appealing according to the news at 1PM EST.

[oceanview]

so this tells us that the juror who was excused, the one who refused to wear the valentines day shirt, that we thought was a liberal because she worked at a museum - was likely a holdout for acquittal, so the foreman cooked up a "violation" with the judge and got her tossed.

[Beagle8U]

"He didn't need to take the 5th. He hadn't done anything illegal, until he decided to lie to the Grand Jury.

I think the fact that he refused to testify on his own behalf pretty much tells the whole story.
Guilty as charged."

What PROOF was ever presented that he lied to anyone?
You are basing your judgment of that on something Mr. Tater Head said? You signed up here a few days ago to bless us with your profound wisdom that the word of a POS liberal reporter must be taken as gospel truth?

Try again Skippy!...lol

[oceanview]

now you see why Ari Fleischer resigned - that allowed him to retain his rights in the grand jury. Rove and Libby were just brought in there likes lambs to the slaughter.