Reporter Disputes Ari Fleischer's Testimony at CIA Leak Trial (David Gregory told of Wilson's wife)

Foxnews ^ | 1/30/2007 | Foxnews

[tobyhill]

WASHINGTON — A former Time Magazine correspondent says former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer got it wrong when he testified under oath Monday at the CIA leak trial that he disclosed to the journalist the identity of a secret CIA operative.

"I assumed that in some context, my name would come up," John Dickerson, Slate Magazine's chief political correspondent, told FOXNews.com on his way Tuesday to cover the trial. "I didn't realize it would come up in that fashion."

Fleischer took the stand Monday to answer questions in the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. Libby is charged with perjury and obstruction relating to the investigation of who outed CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Fleischer also testified that he first heard about Plame from Libby over lunch on July 7, 2003. Libby says he first learned about Plame on July 10 from NBC reporter Tim Russert.

Dickerson said he was surprised when he heard his name — and his photo popped up on the big screen in the courtroom — when Fleisher took the stand.

"I was at the Scooter Libby trial to cover it, and all of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of the case," Dickerson wrote.

[Howlin]

Can you diagram that sentence for me??

[Mr. K]

In this case I don't think the defense is objecting to hearsay, although they are entitled to. If it helps their case they don't have to object.

[onedoug]

Scooter Libby gets dragged through this kangaroo court while Sandy Berger walks. The enforcement of our laws lies largely in the hands of judges that would sell America down the river.

God help us all.

[tobyhill]

If Gregory already knew and he works so closely with Russert who's to say he didn't tell him and when he told him.

[bjc]

As the saying goes:
It's 99% of the lawyers that give the rest of us a bad name!

[Beckwith]

So far, how many people have gotten testimony incorrect.

All of 'em.

[mass55th]

"So far, how many people have gotten testimony incorrect."

My impression is that no one testifying has been able to correctly recollect what occured and when. Seems to me they should all be charged with perjury and obstruction...not just Libby.

[pinz-n-needlez]

My mother sang 'Valerie Plame Looked for the Union Label' lullabies to me when I was young. ;-)

[TommyDale]

Well, let me think about this. Who do I believe, David Gregory or Ari Fleisher? Sorry, David -- you lose!

[woofie]

sorry, the drugs havent worn off yet

[Howlin]

And I am beginning to wonder about Ari.

Why DID he leave the White House in such a rush?

[TommyDale]

"The whole trial is a he said, she said.",

Yes, and the "she" is Joe Wilson.

[tobyhill]

Ari cut a deal to say whatever Fitzy wanted him to say because Ari "thought" giving her name was illegal.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Is this the "I am Spartacus" strategy? Ironic that Scooter is the only one who didn't say it and got burned.

I'm with Howlin, there seems to be some very old political karma at play here. We may need to wait ten years until the insider books are written to actually understand this.

[syriacus]

t's just too pathetic that Chrissy Matthews, Shuster and Gregory have been playing this thing as though all these revelations are new.

Yesterday, Matthews kept on insisting that Cheney did request that the CIA check into the Niger-Iraq connection. Matthews seemed to think this needed to be stressed. It seemed like an odd place for Matthews to draw a line in the sand.

[CutePuppy]

Impeach the witnesses' memory and recollection (jury should get the drift without the expert's testimony), impeach the "investigation", impeach Nifong's... er, Fitzgerald's ulterior MOTIVEs.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Considering this case is all about creating ripples leading to Impeachment, I love your characterization. :-)

[tobyhill]

Cheney didn't have to request that of the CIA because it's already their job but it was Valerie Plame who sent her husband.

[Howlin]

I just posted this on another thread:

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with thinking that when two officials of the same administration discuss something like this, i.e., Plame, that is NOT leaking?

It sounds to me like Ari is the one who drew first blood.

[TommyDale]

I thought he had a job offer in the private sector. Hey, just looking at the faces of the characters involved, I would say that I would not trust any of them, especially the prosecutor!