But his answers were dependent on the timeframe in question. Of course at some point he knew for a fact that Plame worked for the CIA. We all knew that for a fact before Libby was ever indicted. In Libby's statement, during the timeframe in question, he had at that time only heard rumors from reporters, as opposed to having known about it already through his government clearance.
Yes. True.
Of course at some point he knew for a fact that Plame worked for the CIA.
The indictment says that timeframe is June 11-14 (FWIW, Woordward asserts his first meeting with Libby that MIGHT have broached this subject, but Woordward's notes and protocol lean toward "no discussion," was June 23 (talk) and June 27 (meet)).
In Libby's statement, during the timeframe in question, he had at that time only heard rumors from reporters, as opposed to having known about it already through his government clearance.
That is what he told investigators, "I only heard it from reporters, and didn't know it as a matter of fact." His timing confusion, in order to win at trial, has to be between "looking it up" himself and hearing it as rumor from reporters. But even that is tough, because he seems to have withheld from investigators that he even bothered to look it up for himself. His testimony (as painted in the indictment) is that the -only- sources ofhis information during the timeframe in question was reporters, and in fact, THEY told HIM, and that's the only way he learned.