Closed hearings ordered in Libby CIA leak case

MSNBC ^ | 9-6-06 | Joel Seidman

[STARWISE]

A federal judge has ordered a series of closed hearings to determine if Vice President Cheney's former top aide, I Lewis "Scooter" Libby, can use certain classified information as a defense during his trial in the CIA/Leak case.

Judge Reggie Walton ordered two sets of closed door hearings. The first, to begin on September 25th, and "continue everyday thereafter until completed," will be to make all determinations concerning the use, relevance, or admissibility of classified information that would otherwise be made during the trial.

The second set of closed hearing, set to begin October 10th, will deal with classified information the judge has determined to be admissible at trial.

The judge also ordered that the government's declassification team be present at both hearings.

[STARWISE]

Fitzgerald has said in court filings that the Plame leak from Libby was orchestrated specifically to undermine the credibility of Wilson's public pronouncements - which Fitzgerald says consumed the Vice President's office for several weeks in the summer of 2002.

Libby was charged in October, 2005 with lying to the FBI and a federal grand jury about how he learned the name of CIA officer Valerie Plame and when he subsequently told three reporters about her. He faces five counts of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of justice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WE SHALL SEE.

[STARWISE]

Ping! Who wants to bet we won't still get leaks out of the closed hearings?

[aragona]

FREE LIBBY NOW!

[weegee]

It's a show trial that is STRICTLY off the record so that their smears cannot be revealed for what they are.

[ScaniaBoy]

Fitzgerald has said in court filings that the Plame leak from Libby was orchestrated specifically to undermine the credibility of Wilson's public pronouncements - which Fitzgerald says consumed the Vice President's office for several weeks in the summer of 2002.

And where does Armitage fit into all this according to Fitzgerald?

Has any journalist posed that question to him since Armitage's "confession"?

(I thought not.)

[JLS]

FREE LIBBY NOW!

He is free now. The day after the election regardless of the outcome, might be the best day to pardon him and keep this silliness out of politics. And I agree with Limbaugh, pardon Schumer too at the same time.

[BigSkyFreeper]

And I agree with Limbaugh, pardon Schumer too at the same time.

BS. Frog-march that scumbag and his "prosecutor's prosecutor" into the nearest prison facility. The only crime committed is the entire investigation Fitzgerald has been carrying out.

[AmeriBrit]

What the......?

Someone has to be putting something in the water or blowing something through the a/c vents that's causing this insanity epidemic on the left side of the house.

[AmericaUnited]

Fitzgerald has said in court filings that the Plame leak from Libby was orchestrated specifically to undermine the credibility of Wilson's public pronouncements - which Fitzgerald says consumed the Vice President's office for several weeks in the summer of 2002.

Anal Fitzgerald LIED! He needs to be prosecuted for his handling of this case. The only person who INTENSELY angers me in this whole sordid affair is Anal Fitzgerald. Wilson, the rats, et al. are expected to be liars and scum.

[goresalooza]

"Libby CIA leak case"

Oh? Is this new? PMSnbc, as usual, lies right in its libelous headline. It should read:

"Fitzgerald's Fake Case Against Libby"

Harumph.

[onyx]

Exactly.

[SkyPilot]

Here is Fitzgerald's entire case in synopsis:

"So you see Mr. Fitzgerald, I remember Libby saying he had a bagel for breakfast on Aug 12th, and he also told me he received four phone calls that morning from reporters."

"Hmmmmmm.....yessssss I seeeee. So, Mr. Libby, you said you had a NUTRI-GRAIN bar on Aug 12th, and only TWO reporters called you.....is that right? Hmmmm?"

"Well, yes sir. I like Nutri-Grain bars. And yes, a couple of reporters called me that morning, as I can remember."

"No no no! A BAGEL and FOUR reporters called!"

"Gotcha Libby! You're indicted!"

[sgtbono2002]

I cant believe sane men would ontinue with this farcical trial.

If anyone should be on trial it is Fitzcerald , on trial for stealing government funds to continue an investigation tht should have ended two days after it tarted.

[Hardastarboard]

pardon Schumer too at the same time

NO pardons for Chuckie Schumer. Ever. He did the crime, he does the time. I don't care if it's a GD parking ticket. He's a little Nazi (yes, I know he's Jewish, and I'm not in the habit of calling people that name) and deserves to live under the very same suffocating laws and penalties as the rest of us.

Only problem is, he'll never be convicted of anything. His reward will have to come in the afterlife.

[paguch]

Fitzgerald has said in court filings that the Plame leak from Libby was orchestrated specifically to undermine the credibility of Wilson's public pronouncements - which Fitzgerald says consumed the Vice President's office for several weeks in the summer of 2002.

Another way of stating the same thing.

The Plame leak was a way of explaining that a well known CIA employee had used her position in a political manner thus allowing her husband, and Kerry supporter, to blatently lie to the Congress and the world about his true mission to Niger.
Furthermore as the special prosecuter I was shocked to learn the first day that there was no crime and Mr Armitage was responsible but am thankful I have found a way to remain relevant.

[OldFriend]

The phony apologies from some in the print media is really all about not wanting to see their phone records and their contacts revealed. They could care less about Libby and what was done to this man.

[DoctorMichael]

The illusion of importance, intelligence, and righteousness must be maintained at all costs by those in the prosecution and courts.

[JustDoItAlways]

Libby's lawyers will surely get access to all of Fitzgerald's files after Armitage's admission that he was the leak source and that Fitzgerald knew it.

[upchuck]

Talk about a tempest in a teapot! I feel sorry for Mr. Libby. This thing is over and done with and yet he's still on the hot seat.

I sincerely hope somebody has the common sense to just sweep this under the rug and get on with their day.

[nathanbedford]

This farce has now reached its Kafkaesque limit. In a trial that grew out of an investigation of a leak that wasn't, about a crime that wasn't, the court evidently has authorized the use of "classified" information.

I thought this whole deal was over the leaking of "classified" information.

[buck61]

The judge in this case doesn't want the American people to hear any of Libbys defence or defence motions.
Democrats love working the system to their own advantage.
If the judge is a Dem. and, the prosecutor is a Dem, end of story.

[madprof98]

This farce has now reached its Kafkaesque limit.

Perfect.

[seanrobins]

Yeah, wouldn't that be something.

I would love to see the look on Chuckie's face if Preisdent Bush publically announced that he was issuing a Presidential pardon for Chuckie's crimes.

His head would explode.

:-)

[gate2wire]

Since there was no crime committed until Libby lied, he will plead guilty to a misdemeaner False swearing. That's it.

[StAnDeliver]

Deep irony -- at this point, Fizzy is trying to construct some graceful exit out of the nightmare of his own making by looking for insufficient evidence to convict Libby.

Fizzy would have been wise to either fold his hand without Libby, or indict everyone in sight. Now he'll never work in DC again.

But he'll write a book and get the seven-figure payola like Klink & Mrs. Klink; then a speaking tour; then some backwater college will pick him up.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Closed hearing on a non-crime ?

[johnny7]

It's a show trial that is STRICTLY off the record so that their smears cannot be revealed for what they are.

Agreed... they won't go open until Fitz(mas)gerald has a presser anouncing they've indicted Dick Cheney.

[mountainfolk]

LOL. This is a good one. But on the bagel thing, did he have butter or cream cheese with it? Too important to overlook. Lives are hanging in the balance.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

This farce has now reached its Kafkaesque limit. In a trial that grew out of an investigation of a leak that wasn't, about a crime that wasn't, the court evidently has authorized the use of "classified" information.

We found out recently that it was Armitage. But the Justice Department knew it before the special prosecutor was named.

Which means that in principle George Bush knew it back then, or else he ought to be steaming mad now. But Bush has never seemed as exercised over this imbroglio as we all think we would be in his place. There is something about this that we still don't understand. I can't even speculate what it might be. But something is still afoot.

[montag813]

And I agree with Limbaugh, pardon Schumer too at the same time.

The wittiest thing Rush has said all year, I love it.

[demkicker]

Bravo! That's a perfect illustration of this sham of an indictment!

[mass55th]

Fitzgerald should be the one charged with lying since it appears he's told more falsehoods, and carried on an extensive cover-up of facts about the case.

[Hildy]

Tim Russert was STILL riding this dead horse on MTP this morning, trying to pin it on Cheney. Did anyone see it? Looked like Cheney wanted to smack him!

[mewzilla]

Patrick Fitzgerald...the Mike Nifong of federal prosecutors.

[mass55th]

Nope, missed it. I don't watch any of the Sunday morning talk shows. I don't like getting my stomach in an uproar before having breakfast :-)

[Hawthorn]

>> Libby's lawyers will surely get access to all of Fitzgerald's files after Armitage's admission that he was the leak source and that Fitzgerald knew it. <<

Is there any realistic chance that disciplinary proceedings could be brought against the Fitz for ethics violations?

[Hawthorn]

>> some backwater college will pick him [the Fits] up <<


Yeah, sure, like Yale Law School or the Kennedy School at Harvard.

It's clear that the Fits will never have another national platform from which to operate. Case closed.

[SusaninOhio]

'he will plead guilty to a misdemeaner False swearing. That's it.'

And his entire career is ruined - but the wilson lying pair of crapheads will profit from writing books, giving lying interviews, and their children will probably be sheltered from the information that their parents are BOTH lying pieces of partican excrement.

This makes me very angry.

[piasa]

There is something about this that we still don't understand. I can't even speculate what it might be. But something is still afoot.

I think Rockefeller's "problem" is still afoot and it is related in some fashion to all this.