""Mr. Russert said to me, did you know that Ambassador Wilson's wife, or his wife, works at the CIA? And I said, no, I don't know that. And then he said, yeah – yes, all the reporters know it. And I said, again, I don't know that. I just wanted to be clear that I wasn't confirming anything for him on this. And you know, I was struck by what he was saying in that he thought it was an important fact, but I didn't ask him anymore about it because I didn't want to be digging in on him, and he then moved on and finished the conversation, something like that."
"In truth and fact, as Libby well knew when he gave this testimony, it was false in that: a. Russert did not ask Libby if Libby knew that Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA, nor did he tell Libby that all the reporters knew it; and b. At the time of this conversation, Libby was well aware that Wilson’s wife worked at the CIA..."
So, in point a. Fitzgerald is taking the "he said -- he said" between Russert and Libby, and deciding to believe Russert. How does he know? Is there a recording? Or is he just saying, "Hey, if I believe Russert I have an indictment; if I don't believe him, I have nothing."
In point b., he accuses Libby of lying in the statement above because Libby was well aware that Wilson’s wife worked at the CIA. Funny, though, Libby didn't say in that testimony that he didn't know that Plame worked for the CIA. Libby testified that *he told Russert* that he didn't know. Is lying to a reporter a crime?
Looks to me like there's no substance there.
Byron York was suggesting that there is a tape. Other than that Fritz could decide he trusted Russert because he unequivocally said they didnt even discuss Wilson and his wife and Libby goes into this long convuluted story that he remembers while forgetting all the previous conversations with Cheney and others who told him about or talked about Wilson and his wife.
I noticed that within 30 minutes of the indictment being posted, and made exactly the same comment.
As for "does he have a recording," single-party recording is illegal in DC.
Also it just wouldn't look good for Russert to have been recording, and to have turned the tape over to DoJ. In any case it would be "fruit of the bitter tree", inadmissable.
So why does Firzgerald believe Russert and not Libby?
seems doubtful the conversation wasn't recorded or perhaps they went over the topic a second time in an email.Dims aimed high,they missed,came up with perjury.Just get the feeling they have the goods here in one form or another
That is exactly the way I read it....
I trying to remember what Fitzgerald said about this yesterday at the press conference.
It was something to affect that some days prior to the conversation with Russert,Libby had mentioned Plame's working for the CIA to several other people. I gathered that there was verification on this from those people. From that, and perhaps other things as well, it was concluded that Libby lied when he said that Russert told him about Plame and when he said that he had never heard of her affiliation with the CIA before the Russert conversation.
Also,Russert says that Plame never even came up in their conversation, which had something to do with Libby complaining about the manner in which a certain story had been presented on NBC.
In fairness to Libby,I know that I would be hard pressed to remember on what days I had certain conversations and with whom,particularly if I were testifying alone (no attorney allowed to be with you) before a GJ. Perhaps all this is due to a mix up.
The question is why was LL so darned insistent on giving a detailed story to the prosecutor? You NEVER do that. You say, "It may have been, but I don't recall." "Perhaps, it was TR, but I don't know." Pull a Clinton.
While listening to Fitz, one of the first things I thought when he said Libby's description of his conversation with Russert was a lie was Russert must have produced a recording. Either that, or Russert had the call on speaker phone and somebody else is backing up Russert. Reminded me of Mike Wallace secretly taping conversations during 60 Minutes pieces.
I agree, I posted this same thoughts 5 mins. after the papers were released yesterday.
It sounds like Russert audiotaped his conversation with Libby for Fitzgerald to make the assertion which he did regarding the conversation between Libby and Russert. What are the laws in New York and Washington D.C. regarding taping conversations?
Seems to me Libby got caught lying to Fitzgerald about what he said to Russert. that simple. That stupid.