Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 02/18/2006 7:47:04 AM PST by Seattle Conservative
Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald suggests that allowing I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby access to the [classified] documents -- many of which Mr. Libby read or wrote while working for Vice President Dick Cheney -- would have a "breathtaking" impact on national security.
In arguments filed late Thursday, Mr. Fitzgerald said Mr. Libby's lawyers were trying to derail the perjury and obstruction case by pressing for nearly a year's worth of presidential daily briefs -- summaries of threats to the U.S. that are among the government's most closely guarded secrets.
Mr. Fitzgerald also asked U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton to protect the ongoing grand jury investigation by not forcing the release of the identities of other "individuals" who discussed a covert CIA officer with reporters in 2003.
In his filings, Mr. Fitzgerald also noted that he was submitting a sworn statement, filed under seal with Judge Walton, detailing his reasons for keeping secret the names of people who talked to reporters, for keeping secret the names of others involved in the investigation, and his strategy in the ongoing grand jury probe.
>snip
Mr. Fitzgerald accused Mr. Libby of attempting to commit "graymail," >snip
Mr. Libby's lawyers want the secret briefings prepared for President Bush in order to show that Mr. Libby had more pressing matters on his mind than the disclosure of Mrs. Plame's identity.
Mr. Fitzgerald dismissed Mr. Libby's "preoccupation defense," saying the prosecution already has given defense attorneys more than 11,000 pages of classified and unclassified evidence -- more than required under law.
>snip
Mr. Libby also is seeking access to more information about news reporters, CIA records about Mrs. Plame and any damage assessments of the public disclosure of her identity to national security
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
"The filing does not reveal whether presidential adviser Karl Rove remains under scrutiny. Mr. Fitzgerald also does not indicate whether he is investigating Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward's source, whose existence was revealed after Mr. Libby was indicted last year."
Mr. Fitzgerald must have watched "My Cousin Vinnie"
"many of which Mr. Libby read or wrote"
My breath is being taken by Mr. Fitzgerald's argument, in addition to not being a witness against yourself he has now included not being a witness for yourself.
Just maybe this country needed Mr. Libby dealing with national security threats in the White House, more than it needs to prosecute him for not remembering something in one of his notes.
Looks like Fitz is claiming executive privilage.
Is Fitzwater being out lawyered?
It does at that...
Libby will be cleared on all charges and the story will be located on page 29D.
He's guilty because I say so. And I don't know what crime was actually committed if any because I don't have any evidence, but that's irrelevant, he's guilty of 'something'."
So please, someone get him a pacifier and send him home to his mama.
Libby ping.
Let's see, the prosecutor is restricting Libby's access to information he already knows, while at the same time requesting access for himself to even more classified National Security information which he does not already know. I'd ask just what his "need to know" that information is. "Need to know" is determined by the holder of the information, under rules established by the classifying authority) not by the person seeking it. In this case the Classifying Authority is probably the Office of the President, since the information comes from many sources and agencies.
I think you're exactly right in what Fitzy is saying.
There's also this:
"In his filings, Mr. Fitzgerald also noted that he was submitting a sworn statement, filed under seal with Judge Walton, detailing his reasons for keeping secret the names of people who talked to reporters, for keeping secret the names of others involved in the investigation, and his strategy in the ongoing grand jury probe."
Wonder if he is doing this, because he doesn't want to give away the fact that he never talked to anyone at the CIA or Plame to determine if she was really a covert agent. That's the premise of the case, and if she wasn't, he wouldn't have anything to investigate, therefore, he couldn't make a name for himself and help his career. One could hope that Plame and Wilson are 2 of those under investigation, but I'm skeptical. Though, maybe he's covering his steps and backtracking and investigating that now (especially since there have been some questions about this, primarily from the right).
Thanks Peach! I knew someone was keeping a Fitzy ping list, but couldn't remember who it was.
Scooter ping!
Fitz is making it probable that his agents (and maybe himself) will be called as witnesses.
He's guilty because I say so. And I don't know what crime was actually committed if any because I don't have any evidence, but that's irrelevant, he's guilty of 'something'."
The same standard of guilt the media and the DNC applies to conservatives. No wonder they and Fitz love each other so much.
Isn't that the whole point?! I thought Fitzgerald said there wasn't any others. I'm so confused! lol!
Talk about Justice being blind!! This Judge "plays" blind, deaf and dumb...BUT he sure seems to have an Dem serving agenda.
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