John Hinderaker at Power Line seems to think that the indictment is devastating to Libby, and I think Hinderaker is very smart. So I go into this thinking … hmmm … shame for Libby.
But then I start reading the indictment, and nothing within that indictment makes sense at all. As just one example, at about the same time Libby spoke with Russert (on or around 7/10) and Cooper (on 7/12) he had come to know that Novak was going to do his story. (Libby learned this on 7/10 or 7/11). The indictment also says that Libby had a conversation on 7/12 with WH officials about how to respond to media questions, including from Cooper (and we can infer others). The indictment makes clear that Judith Miller was also up to speed on Plame, though she has written in the NY Times that she was tipped by someone other than Libby. YET THE INDICTMENT SAYS THAT PLAME’S IDENTITY WAS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN AT THE TIME LIBBY DISCLOSED IT TO RUSSERT AND COOPER ON 7/10 AND 7/12.
OK, I suppose that I didn’t know, and my wife didn’t know, and I presume few if any of my coworkers here in the Midwest knew … but come on! Clearly, the facts set forth in the indictment itself make clear that a few folks did indeed know, and that the whole world would know as soon as Novak’s report came out.
The indictment also takes Russert’s word over Libby’s regarding their 7/10 phone call. Libby claims that Russert told him that “all the reporters knew” that Plame worked at the CIA. According to Libby, Russert wanted Libby to confirm this, and it’s not difficult to imagine Russert taking this approach. Russert claims, though, that this part of the conversation never happened, and this is part of the perjury indictment against Libby.
It gets worse. Libby never spoke with Novak, as far as we can tell from the indictment, so the leak came from elsewhere, and it was about to go public irrespective of anything Libby said or did. Miller did nothing with the information Libby gave her. And Cooper was came on board late in the game and (according to the indictment itself) asked Libby to confirm information he had acquired elsewhere.
Honestly, even if I take the information given in the indictment on its face, I truly don’t understand what Libby did wrong. But then I read Hinderaker and I think I must be missing something.
Does the WH record all calls? Even to the VPs office? And his people? Should be interesting Mr. Russert.
Who knows what the outcome of this will be. All I know is that the allegation is that Libby claimed he heard about Plame from Russert - and allegedly that didn't happen. We shall see. In the meantime, all this talk about the White House being in real trouble is wishful thinking.
This is sobering -- to see the statements of partisan media ass-clowns receiving more weight than that of senior administration officials.
That said, Libby has doomed himself by blabbing to these jackals in the first place. He has brought this mess upon himself, and given the political enemy an opportunity to create turmoil for President Bush as well. For this, Libby should be ashamed. Aside from some FReepers on this and other threads, I don't feel sorry for him in the least.