FBI releases notes from interview with Cheney about Plame leak (Fri night MSM dump)

WashPost ^ | 10-30-09 | Barton Gellman

[STARWISE]

Former vice president Richard B. Cheney told a special prosecutor in 2004 that he could not remember playing any role in leaking the identity of Valerie Plame as a clandestine CIA officer, according to FBI records released under court order Friday.

In his May 8, 2004, interview with Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, Cheney said he could not recall when he learned that Plame, the wife of Iraq war critic Joseph C. Wilson IV, worked for the CIA; could not recall telling his chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, about Plame's employment; and could not recall telling Libby to disclose the news to reporters.

Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying under oath about his conversations with reporters. Cheney's role remained a central mystery.

*snip*

FBI notes of Cheney's May 8, 2004, interview, which have not been made public before, do little to clear up the unanswered questions that, according to Fitzgerald, left "a cloud over the vice president" in one of the most embarrassing episodes of the presidency of George W. Bush.

After years of legal maneuvering to keep the documents secret, they were made public late Friday under a lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. That organization provided the FBI notes to The Washington Post. Portions of the three documents, totaling 67 pages, were redacted on grounds of national security, privacy or privileged presidential communications.

[BilLies]

Saving that baby of a post.

[Jim from C-Town]

Wrong. The way that you answer any question from the FBI, Police, or prosecutor is:

‘I do not speak to the police. I am not required by law or the constitution to be a party to your investigation. Thank you for your concern, if I am not under arrest I will be leaving. If I am under arrest please get me an attorney.

Thank you’

[Vaquero]

Libby jail sentence commuted by US President George Bush
After Libby was denied bail during his appeal process on July 2, 2007, President Bush commuted Libby's 30-month federal prison sentence, calling it “excessive”, but he did not change the other parts of the sentence and their conditions.[17] That presidential commutation left in place the felony conviction, the $ 250,000 fine, and the terms of probation.

[STARWISE]

Totally accurate. I doubt there was
was one rat in the room to hear it.
They can’t be bothered to have their
delirium contaminated with the truth.

[Verginius Rufus]

Saying "I don't recall" seemed to work pretty well for Hillary.

So what happens next? Does Eric Holder decide there is enough in the documents to appoint Patrick Fitzgerald as Special Prosecutor to Get Dick Cheney?

[Vendome]

Thanks. I am very under the weather.