Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information

National Journal ^ | 2.9.06 | Murry Waas

[conserv13]

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, testified to a federal grand jury that he had been "authorized" by Cheney and other White House "superiors" in the summer of 2003 to disclose classified information to journalists to defend the Bush administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case to go to war with Iraq, according to attorneys familiar with the matter, and to court records.

According to sources with firsthand knowledge, Cheney authorized Libby to release additional classified information, including details of the NIE, to defend the administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case for war.

Libby specifically claimed that in one instance he had been authorized to divulge portions of a then-still highly classified National Intelligence Estimate regarding Saddam Hussein's purported efforts to develop nuclear weapons, according to correspondence recently filed in federal court by special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

Beyond what was stated in the court paper, say people with firsthand knowledge of the matter, Libby also indicated what he will offer as a broad defense during his upcoming criminal trial: that Vice President Cheney and other senior Bush administration officials had earlier encouraged and authorized him to share classified information with journalists to build public support for going to war. Later, after the war began in 2003, Cheney authorized Libby to release additional classified information, including details of the NIE, to defend the administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case for war.

[conserv13]

I'd like to see this confirmed by other sources.

[Txsleuth]

This national journal is Chrissy Matthew's source for his show Hairball...so expect this to be his main topic tonight.

[Eva]

That's impossible, because we have already heard that Plame's identity was not classified at that time.

[Eva]

The prosecutor has refused to even state that any classified material was even leaked. This is a totally bogus, lame attempt to revive the Democrats' smear campaign.

[jazusamo]

Anonymous sources continue to multiply in this story.

[conserv13]

That's impossible, because we have already heard that Plame's identity was not classified at that time.

I think the jury is still out on that one. We don't have a definitive answer on that yet.

[Eagles Talon IV]

What has this to do with Valerie Plame or for that matter obstruction of justice?

And of course we have the always interesting "unnamed sources"

[arasina]

Reverse PING! :o)

Get a load of THIS!

[MortMan]

I'd like it confirmed by NAMED sources - and then they should be prosecuted for leaking the info, which is secret (from the grand jury).

[Eva]

We got our definitive answer when the prosecutor was unable to bring any charges regarding a leak of classified information. The prosecutor is now stonewalling the defense on the release of the information that would prove the point, because if it is proven that Fitzgerald knew that no leak had occurred and still asked for an extension, his whole case is out the window and he will be exposed as partisan.

[MineralMan]

So is Libby lying? That's the real question here. If he is, then Cheney will contradict him and it will be a he said/he said thing.

If he's not lying, however, this is going to be an ungood thing.

[mystery-ak]

If this is so, why wasn't Cheney indicted?

[Cboldt]

If Libby knowingly disclosed information about Plame's status with the CIA, Libby would appear to have violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 793 if the information is considered "information respecting national defense." In order to establish a violation of Title 50, United States Code 421, it would be necessary to establish that Libby knew or believed that Plame was a person whose identity the CIA was making specific efforts to conceal and who has carried out cover work overseas within the last 5 years. To date, we have no direct evidence that Libby knew or believed that Wilson's wife was engaged in covert work. [emphasis added]

Fitzgerald Affidavit of August 27, 2004 - FN 15 on Page 28

[roses of sharon]

LOL, Saddam and Sons defense team working hard!

[massgopguy]

July 14, 2005. "My wife was not a clandestine officer at the time of the Novak column" - Joe Wilson on CNN's Wolf Blitzer Show. A transcript is available on-line

[conserv13]

If this is so, why wasn't Cheney indicted?

I am not sure. The Democrats will treat this like a big deal, when it may not be. I don't know what this means yet, but I saw it in another discussion board and I wanted to get FReeper reaction.

[conserv13]

Who's side are YOU on?

I don't know if Cheney or Libby broke the law or not. I hope not.

[Richard Axtell]

This is as dubious as the earlier story about the Judge's opinion, based on old comments by Fitzgerald, that Valerie Plame was in fact a covert agent. This is just the sort of thing Clinton would do, when that sieve-like administration over saw the worst compromising of national security secrets in American history. We hear again and again how secretive the Bush administration is, yet now the accusation is that Cheney would jeopardize intelligence secrecy for minor political points. Plenty of reason not to buy this one folks. Just chalk it up to just another "Ratherism" without serious basis. Let's see some real proof, and then we'll talk. In the meantime, I am tired of hearing "Wolf, wolf" every five minutes from the partisan biased MSM, as their credibility is long, long been reduced to zero.

[jwpjr]

re: I think the jury is still out on that one

I find it incredible that this continues to be a topic of confusion. Seems to me the first goal of the prosecutor assigned to investigate the whole affair would have been to determine if her name was classified and if indeed a crime had been committed. Looks to me like a classic case of cart before the horse approach so common in anything government does.