Posted on 05/10/2006 3:24:25 PM PDT by STARWISE
A pattern is emerging in pre-trial arguments in the perjury and obstruction of justice case against former Cheney chief of staff Lewis Libby. That pattern is the recurring conflict between the Little Case and the Big Case.
The Little Case is the narrow, tightly defined charge that Libby lied to prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury. For example, did Libby lie when he testified that NBC's Tim Russert "said to me, did you know that Ambassador Wilson's wife…works at the CIA? And I said, no, I don't know that"?
Did Libby lie when he testified that, when speaking to journalists about the information that Valerie Plame Wilson worked at the CIA, "I was very clear to say reporters are telling us that because in my mind I still didn't know it as a fact"?
If Fitzgerald had his way, that is all the case would be about. At every hearing, and in every court filing, he has argued that the case is simply a matter of a few specific false statements allegedly made by Libby. Nothing else matters—just the Little Case.
The Big Case
(snip)
Who leaked Mrs. Wilson's identity, why was it done, and did it violate the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, the Espionage Act, or some other law?
Fitzgerald has spent untold amounts of money—unlike the old independent counsels, Fitzgerald is not required to report what his office has spent on the case—and has covered every conceivable aspect of the disclosure of Mrs. Wilson's identity. He has questioned officials across the executive branch, including the president and vice president.
He has learned about the Big Case as much as one man with subpoena power, no supervision, unlimited funds, and no hesitation to threaten reporters with jail can learn. He just doesn't want to talk about it.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
The Big Case is the story of an administration under attack from Joseph Wilson and many others, trying to defend the reasons it went to war in Iraq. Libby might have simply forgotten some of the details, and because of that testified incorrectly, his lawyers contend, because he was focusing on the big picture. If Libby's defense team had its way, the whole thing—the Big Case—would be re-fought in the courtroom."
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Little man desperately chasing a big verdict. Where's Alberto?
Ding
"Fitzgerald rose to answer. "I'm not going to stipulate that Mr. Wilson was accurate on every thing," he said.
The last sentence is the best: As far as Fitzy is concerned, it doesn't even matter if Plame worked at the CIA or not. This is beyond disgraceful; I cannot believe the judge is even allowing this to go forward. Fitzy is a real clymer, and how much of our tax dollars has he spent trying to catch Libby in a mistatement? This is a miscarrage of justice, and I sure do wish someone would put a stop to it. The persecution of Libby continues by an out of control maniacal, egomaniac prosecutor.
Chrissy's boy Fitz got his centerfold in People Rag and smeared a man, a VP and a President forever.
I'd say he has done enough.
Everything that really matters is being excluded by a rogue prosecutor, with connivance of a Clintonista judge. The "little case" is not what any American patriot cares about, it is only about whether the MSM snakepit caught up Scooter Libby in their b.s. How are we supposed to win the war on jihadists when government officials have to spend vast amounts of time and energy worrying about such trivia???
It's a great article!
Is that a correct quote????
Is York the only person reporting on this story?
BTW: Off topic, Brit just mentioned on his grapevine segment, that Tony Snow is already in action. Has sent three emails to mainstream media outlets about their misreporting! LOL. Go get em Tony. I look forward when Tony makes a comment or two about Fitzy; Fitzy is really disgracing himself.
Asked if there was any reporter who had deteremined if she was or wasn't, he admitted that no reporter had determined her status under that law.
All he could do is half-heartedly say that the CIA had made a referal to Justice.
And you won't see a story from the mainstream media because it would stop take a club out of their hands while they conduct jihad against Bush.
"From that point on, the question of Joseph Wilson's credibility shadowed the discussion of other evidence. Wells argued that Wilson had made "inaccurate" statements quoted in a number of news reports. What if prosecutors cited any of those reports?
"The truth of what is in those articles would not be relevant," the judge said. Then he turned to Fitzgerald and said, "Does the government intend to introduce articles?"
"Yes, your honor," Fitzgerald said. Wilson's New York Times op-ed would be introduced, Fitzgerald continued—"but not for the truth." It would, in other words, be given to the jury to show what started the whole Plamegate affair, but Fitzgerald did not intend to argue that it was fully true."
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IS THAT NOT THE POINT?? THE TRUTH OF SLIMEYJOE'S ARTICLE AND THE WH'S INDISPUTABLE RIGHT TO CORRECT THE FALSEHOODS?
Libby's lawyers must be ready to explode .. they must be talking to themselves .. with the judge's position and this idiotic and sham prosecutorial farce by Fitzie.
Does Libby have grounds for prosecutorial misconduct here? Does Miller; after all she was jailed after Fitzy already knew who was the leaker. Isn't there a sane person anywhere who will tell Fitzy to drop all the charges? Can the judge dismiss the case, based on lack of factual evidence? Can something be done to stop this nonsense?
Is there some way to impeach the Fitz?
I'm surprised Cooper would even talk to you or anyone about it ... he's gotta be nervous about being subpoenaed. Was he a bit sheepish? gloating? defensive?
Why would Time's Matt Cooper "hate" to say whether Plame was covert or not? By now, it shoudl be obvious to any normal person that Joe Wilson leaked his wife's name.
I haven't seen any transcripts from the last hearing; any idea when/if they will be available? And, when is the next event in this case that might produce some additional interesting information? Can the judge just toss this case out? If he had a brain, he would!!!
I have seen no transcripts online anywhere of that hearing. Byron seems to have been the only one there covering it,too.
Renagade lawyers at work against the American legal system and conservatives like Libby and Delay and using the legal system, corruption is what it is.
He has neither delivered an indictment to that effect or apologized for smearing Mr. Libby.
I think it's time to start wondering if the biggest criminal in this little affair is the Special Prosecutor himself.
Doc, I give Cooper an 'A' for giving you a straight, no spin answer. But I give him and the rest of the MSM an 'F' for being very uncurious about that detail and the apparently miraculous simultaneous uproar in complete harmony from supposedly disparate quarters all making the same charge against the administration.
Put 100 of the best musicians in the world on a stage, and they can not make a great symphony without practice and a skilled conductor waving the batton. But some how, this particular orchestra did just that.
I want to know why Cooper et. al. are not intensly curious about that anomaly. Is there no interest in uncovering a "vast conspiracy" as there was only a few years ago?
It was an appearance before the Pronceton Press Club. A very oh so elitist event.
Embarassment. It brings up the fact that the left wing media has been running with the story without dtermining the "root causes", i.e., is she or isn't she. Exposes them as partisan.
I don't. He was cornered with no place to go.
Oh yes .. hoity toity ... kudos to you .. you're amazing, doc. Never know where you'll show up .. and I LOVE it!! Keep up the good work ... you're an indispensible FReeper.
I'm tellin' ya .. it's like the Twilight Zone, isn't it? I feel like we're in an alien parallel universe and can't translate the other side.
They don't want that question answered. They talk around her status. It would stop the Merrygoround of Journalistic Jihad they like to ride.
He was given a blank check?
I was also not the only conservative attending.
One of the left wing loonies wondered why Novak was "still a free man". At that point I thought one of the peace and love left was going to scream, "Get a rope".
Soooooo in a round about way he's saying that Wilson lied
I'm always struck by how this article is glossed over. The article describes a media open house at the Wilson residence a week before the Novak's story. They were obviously courting the media before the "outing".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A13536-2003Jul5¬Found=true
What a buffoon he is!
ROFL!!
Good article about Plame's status:
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/14076459.htm
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