Reporters Expected to Testify in Libby CIA Leak Trial

FOX News ^ | 1-1-2007 | AP

[BMC1]

WASHINGTON — Some journalists who made careers out of questioning government officials and bearing witness to history may soon find themselves answering questions from prosecutors as key witnesses in the CIA leak case. Ten or more reporters from some of the most prominent news organizations could be called to testify in the perjury and obstruction case of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. It's rare enough for reporters to become witnesses. But the Libby case is even more unusual because journalists will be dueling witnesses -- some called by the defense team, some by prosecutors. "It will be unprecedented and, as far as I'm concerned, horrifying," Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said of the case, for which jury selection begins in two weeks. Prosecutors want to show that Libby lied to investigators about his conversations with journalists regarding outed CIA officer Valerie Plame, and they are expected to rely on former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper and NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert to make their case. Libby, the former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, has said he had no reason to lie and simply didn't remember those conversations. His attorneys have said they will call as many as

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Judith Miller, Novak, Timmy russert>?

Testifying?

Be still my heart!!!!

Getting the popcorn ready!!!YIPPPPPPEEEE!

[BMC1]

I can't wait for this one either. I also want to see the NY TIMES prosecuted for leaking secret information.

[STARWISE]

DING!

[EQAndyBuzz]

I see a lot of "I take the 5th" and "Thomas Jefferson said"
ahead of us.

[BMC1]

I'm sure you're right at the same time, it's going to cost them a LOT of money in attorney's fees. That's a good thing.

[onyx]

HAR! Russert too!!!

[muawiyah]

These people are going to tell lots of lies.

[Spunky]

But the Libby case is even more unusual because journalists will be dueling witnesses --

Nothing more exciting than a good duel.

[BMC1]

This is going to be fun. Hope Libby's attorney's blow Fitzgerald's case right out of the water.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

>link

IMUS: Well, [Alan Murray's] question seems plain. "Do we have any idea how widely known it was in Washington that Joe Wilson's wife worked at the CIA. And you said that his wife worked . . .

MITCHELL: When you look at my answer, I said: "It was widely known - and we were trying to track down who among the foreign community was the envoy to Niger." So far, so good. Okay? [Quoting herself again.] "So some of us began to pick up on that. But frankly I wasn't aware of her actual role at the CIA and the fact the she had a covert role involving weapons of mass destruction, not until Bob Novak wrote it.

IMUS: Well, that part is clear.

MITCHELL: That's clear. So, what's not clear is that I didn't know about her role at the CIA until Bob Novak wrote it. And I obviously got it muddled.

IMUS: Well, what this suggests to me is that, you knew she worked at the CIA but you didn't know what she did there.

MITCHELL: Yes, but that's not . . .

IMUS: Is that fair? Did you know that?

MITCHELL: I didn't.

Andrea Mitchell: I 'Messed Up' on Leakgate Answer .

--snip--

IMUS: Well, then - why did you say you did, Andrea?

MITCHELL: Because, I messed up.

IMUS: Oh.

--snip--

IMUS: Did you ever have a discussion with Russert about it?

MITCHELL: Sure, after the fact.

IMUS: Oh.

I messed up

,,Houston....I think we've got a problem -----------

[STARWISE]

Libby's attorneys have not publicly named the reporters they expect to be defense witnesses. Two reporters have said they will fight subpoenas, but defense attorney William Jeffress said he expects that will be resolved before trial.

Because Libby is calling them to testify about his own conversations with reporters, Jeffress said there should be no confidentiality concerns.

President Bush did not include Libby on his list of pre-Christmas pardons, and the Justice Department said he does not have a pending pardon application on file.

[onyx]

FOTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[onyx]

I want Russert grilled and put thru the wringer. Twice.

[piasa]

Matthew Cooper - married to Mandy Greenwald, Hillary's best friend and media advisor:

It is also Mandy Grunwald, perhaps more than any other single person, that is responsible for Hillary's success in the NY Senatorial election. It was Mandy that brought the Moynahan's (who despise Hillary) on board to at least fake their support of her. 43 posted on 07/23/2005 9:29:39 AM PDT by Michael.SF. | To 18

Matt's word against Libby's.

...However, upon reviewing [Cooper's documents], the Court discerns a slight alteration between the several drafts of the articles, which the defense could arguably use to impeach Cooper. This slight alteration between the drafts will permit the defendant to impeach Cooper, regardless of the substance of his trial testimony, because his trial testimony cannot be consistent with both versions. ---- Judge Walton ruling

Two of the five counts against Lewis Libby — Count Three and Count Five — are based almost entirely on Libby's word versus Cooper's.-- Byron york

[highlander_UW]

What are they going to have them place their hand on to inspire these media types to not lie? They don't believe in God, so the Bible is ruled out...maybe have them swear on a stack of $100's.

[STARWISE]

ME 2!! And David Corn.

[STARWISE]

And Nicholas Kristof.

[onyx]

Oh yeah! For sure David Corn. What a creep.

[onyx]

Right!