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Fitz's lawyer mispronounces Grenier's last name, then corrects himself.
I'm employed by Kroll Incorporated in consulting group.
We're a risk consulting group, we provide info to business to help them manage their security risks.
I started there July 2006.
I was employed at CIA prior to that–for 27 years.
Started on January 14, 1979.
2002-2004, where were you working:
Starting in 2002 Iraq Mission Manager.
A new position created by Tenet, I was asked to be point person on Iraq. I was asked to coordinate what CIA was doing.
Did this include attending Deputies Committee Meetings.
Don't want to go into a long discussion of policy making process. Deputies Committee primary part of policy-making. Key security agencies are included. I would typically go as the "plus one." Where were these Deputy Committee meetings held–in the Situation Room.
Do you know Scooter Libby?
Yes. The very first time I saw him was at a Deputies Committee meeting in July 2001. Started seeing him on regular basis in 2002.
Those meetings were held quite frequently. The number of meetings over a given week evolved, at least two or three times a week. He was in meetings on Iraq, those meetings were held 2-3 times a week.
Their relationship was that of business acquaintance.
When he came out to the CIA when he came out with VP for "briefings."
June 11 phone message that Scooter Libby called.
I wouldn't have recalled the message. But I recall I got a message at my office.
202 456-9000 was Libby's number.
The message is up, he identifies the writing of his secretary.
That was the first time this had ever happened that he got a call from Libby.
1:15 PM on 6/11.
He learned he got the message shortly thereafter.
I placed the call to Mr. Libby.
He told me that there was an individual by name of Wilson "was going around town speaking to the people in the press" and claiming that he had been sent by the CIA. What else did he tell you.
He also said that Wilson was "claiming" that Wilson had been told that the only reason they were dispatching him was bc of interest expressed by OVP.
Did he tell you what he wanted.
He wanted me to verify for him whether or not there was truth to that story.
And whether it was true that CIA had done so was because of interest expressed by VP.
How did Libby refer to individual. By name or title?
By name. Joe Wilson, as I recall.
Did he say what Wilson's basis of knowledge for claim that VP had sent him.
People in CIA had told him this.
What was Libby's tone of voice?
Even, serious, concerned about this.
He sounded a ltitle aggreived. A certain accusatory tone when he stated this.
11:57
Libby sounded like CIA was complaining.
Libby mentioned that Wilson telling this story to the press.
Libby wanted me to verify whether or not this story was true.
What did you know of the trip.
It was the first I had heard of it.
Libby didn't say, but it was clear he wanted answers right away.
This was the first time he called me, it was probable that I would see him in the next day or two. To me it was the way he reacted when he said Wilson was speaking to the press, it suggested that he needed the info sooner rather than later so he could get out in front of this story.
I attempted to call an info who I thought would have info.
This individual was working in CounterProliferation Division.
Who was it?
Kevin (using just first name)
There was a unit devoted to Iraq WMD. Keving was Deputy Chief of that unit.
What happened when you called Kevin.
I spoke to someone besides Kevin. Since I also knew the Chief of that unit, I may have asked to speak to him. I asked this individual to convey these questions to Kevin. I don't recall who I was speaking to, I don't think it was anyone I knew.
I got a response shortly thereafter.
I'm very wobbly on sequence in time.
It was probably within a couple of hours.
I don't recall who I spoke to when they called back. I didn't know that person either. The person was fully knowledgable.
This person explained that in fact we, CIA, had sent Wilson to Niger to get info to determine whether or not Iraq attempted to purchase uranium.
Did they give any more info?
Explained in a fair amount of detail when he went where he went, those kind of details.
While in fact OVP had been very interested in this, interest had been expressed also by State and Defense.
I felt I had all the information and more to respond to the request by Mr. Libby.
The individual at CPD, did they also bring up Wilson's wife.
Mentioned to me that she was working within the unit at CPD that had sent Wilson.
That's why they knew about Wilson and why he was sent. [not sure on this phrasing, sorry Jeff]
Did the Ambassador's wife's name come up?
No, I'm certain that person did not tell.
Was that info that was new to you?
Yes.
I didn't speak to Libby right away, I may have attempted to call his office. I had a following meeting at 4:15 that afternoon. I didn't get through to him.
What type of meeting. One of our regular Iraq update meetings where we briefed DCI the latest from Iraq.
12:05
I was concerned about not getting back to Libby before my 4:15 meeting.
What happened at the meeting.
Someone came to the door and beckoned for me to come out. Had a note from Libby to call him right away.
I had never been pulled out of a meeting with DCI before.
I thought oh dear, I had wanted to initiate the contact. I wanted to appear forthcoming.
Two reasons to be concerned about getting back to him.
1) Senior Admin official, want to be as forthcoming as possible.
2) it appeared that Libby thought CIA may have behaved badly wrt Wilson trip.
Called him back.
Got him on the phone.
Told him that it was true, CIA had sent Wilson.
How much else I said I don't recall. I may have mentioned debrief was written up.
Second major point I made the people had verified that not only OVP, but also requests as well from State and Defense.
What was his response to hearing that State and Defense had also been interested.
Asked if CIA would be willing to release that publicly.
I believe I did mention only in passing about Wilson's wife. In fact Wilson's wife works there and that's where the idea came from.
When in the context of the conversation. Pretty certain that first thing was that yes, we had sent Wilson, sequence after that was very difficult.
Why did you feel that that was a piece of info that should be passed to Libby.
I wanted to be as forthcoming as I could be.
It was an explanation as to why we had done this in the first place.
How was it germane to the story that Wilson's wife got sent.
Not only was she working at CPD, she was working in the specific unit that had sent Wilson.
If there was a question why him was because his wife worked there.
12:11
Libby's only response was asking whether CIA could reveal the interest of State and Defense publicly.
Told him I had to ask Director of Public Affairs. He was in the meeting I just left. I may have said I could get him right away. I led him to believe I could get access to Director of Public Affairs right away. Director of Public Affairs was Bill Harlow.
I believe I hung up-did not keep him on hold.
Whispered to Harlow I needed him to come out, asked whether we could reveal it publicly to the press, he thought yes we probably could release it publicly to the press. We can publicly work something out. Work out language that CIA would be able to use with the press.
When you told that to Libby what did you do next.
Libby said that someone who deals with press would deal with Harlow on that issue.
Did Libby talk about the name or identity of the press person. It was woman. The name was Cathie.
What happened next was I put Harlow on the phone. I thought that he would be speaking with Libby. As soon as he got on the phone, he was speaking with a female press officer. I don't recall how I inferred it, it may be that he called her by name. I was a little bit surprised.
Is it fair to say that all of these conversations, the note and phone calls with Mr. Libby all occurred on June 11.
A few days later did you see LIbby at a meeting.
I remember seeing him at a meeting, I believe it was a deputies meeting.
He thanked me for the information said it had been useful.
When were you first interviewed.
Fall 2003
When to grand jury?
January 2004
When you were first interviewed by FBI. Were you asked if you had discussed Wilson's wife with Libby. I'm sure the topic came up.
My response was that I didn't clearly remember.
I believe, thinking back that I probably had said I relayed this information to Libby. But I couldn't say for certain.
In connection with your GJ testimony 2004, do you recall what you said what your memory was about saying about Wilson's wife.
I said I may have.
Some time after you testified in the GJ in January 2004. Did you continue to think about that question?
I was going over it in my mind. I was hoping that I hadn't mentioned anything to Mr. Libby, I really didn't remember anything new. But what I did remember was the way I felt immediately after.
I briefly felt guilty, that I had relayed too much information. I was going through a mental justification about why it was alright to have relayed this to Mr. Libby.
What part were you having concerns about. Having mentioned that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA, revealing the identity of an agency officer, although it was indirect.
I didn't know her name, so I didn't give her name, but by saying Joe Wilson's wife worked at the CIA, I was revealing the identity of a CIA officer. It wasn't absolutely necessary, that is information that we guard pretty closely, and if we don't have to say it, we don't.
You went through a mental justification. Senior Govt official, has every security clearance known to man. He may have met this person in the course of his business, this person may have briefed him.
Did you come to any conclusions. It wasn't as if one day I had a revelation. But as I thought about it over time, as I remembered specifically I developed a growing conviction that I had said it, I said to myself wake up and smell the coffee.
What did you do. Initially, nothing.
I was very interested in whether I had relayed that info or not–I didn't think it was significant in the investigation. As I understood it, it was about passing classified info the press. How people knew what they knew was a moot point.
At some point did your understanding change?
At a certain point, Spring 2005, I saw stories that what Libby knew and how he knew it was an open question. Accounts he may have learned about it from the press rather than the other way around.
When I saw that it seemed to me that my info was potentially relevant.
Got in touch with lawyers at CIA, relayed info to them. Asked whether we should call Special Counsel.
Were you subsequently re-interviewed and go back to GJ.
12:23
What were you going to reveal?
We weren't worried about revaling that Wilson went on the trip–he had outed himself.
We also released info on State and Defense's interest.
Break for lunch–see you in an hour.
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M A R C Y
C H R I S T Y
J A N E
bwaaahaaahaaa – a drive by zed!
Thanks so much Wheel!
“That was the first time this had ever happened that he got a call from Libby.
1:15 PM on 6/11.”
This the day after Libby has Niger mtg. on his calendar…
Oooh, exciting stuff!
Thanks for your minutes, EW.
It’s valuable to be able to assess things without being filtered by MSM.
BC
EW = Expert Witness! Woo hoo!
Thank you Marcy. Eagerly awaiting yr book.
Outstanding live blogging.
Sore hands: hot paraffin treatment, available from manicurist. That’s for Christy.
Surgery update: today, as yesterday, corrected shoddy work done by somebody else. With success.
Political analogy anyone??
This is the one that’s going to be hard for libby to explain away as everybody misremembering…
Did they misremember his phonecall/message slip as actually being from someone else….Looter Sibby maybe?
Wow – Fitz is laying out simple, direct facts establishing a sequence of events and the level of Libby’s concern (not a casual matter as defense is trying to claim). Wells will try to make this as murky as possible on cross and will continue trying to call into question the witnesses’ memory. However, Fitz has document (phone message) establishing the contact from Libby. It’s a killer fact that this was the FIRST time Libby called this witness.
Thanks for this fascinating play-by-play.
Is the new thread showing up on the home page? I still get the old thread on Grossman.
WoW hard to repute someone remembering getting a message from OVP for the first time. Those are the kind of things a person remembers.
Wells to come: ooh look at the bright shiny thing over………..there…….
Wells: What nationality is your last name?
Grenier: It’s French.
Wells: AHA!
-GSD
A trillion thanks for this mighty service.
-
GSD @
13
ROFL
WoW hard to repute someone remembering getting a message from OVP for the first time. Those are the kind of things a person remembers.
yeah, combine that with “I had never been pulled out of a meeting with DCI before”….and it makes Libby look really concerned with the entire subject of Joe Wilson early on….
but this is the really damning part of the testimony so far….
Here we have Grenier confirming that OVP WAS INVOLVED in getting Wilson sent — yet Libby (and the WH) went to great lengths to discredit Wilson by claiming OVP was NOT involved….
GSD @ 13
A grenier in French is an attic or loft. Sounds loftier in French, doesn’t it?
It’s going to be awfully hard for the defense to claim that all these people misremembered. Most people don’t get phone calls from Cheney’s right-hand man on a regular basis, so it’s going to be a memorable event for them. And Libby’s in even more trouble, because “the wife” was the answer to one of his two big questions:
1. Who sent Joe Wilson to Niger and why? ANSWER: The CIA, because the Vice-President, State, and Defense had all wanted to someone to investigate the yellowcake story.
2. Why was Joe Wilson in particular sent? ANSWER: Because his wife, who works at the CIA, suggested him.
That will be seen, correctly, as a major part of the story. Can’t wait to see how poorly they do on cross.
Getting pulled out of the meeting with the DCI says something about the importance that Irving placed on this information, and his urgency at getting it. I’d love to hear what the phone conversation between Irving and the person delivering the note was like. . . .
CIA: “Hello, Mr. Grenier’s office.”
Irving: “Yes, this is Scooter Libby in the Vice President’s Office. I need to speak with Mr. G right away – please put me through to him.”
CIA: “I’m sorry, but he’s in with the DCI at the moment. Can he call you back in 30 minutes?
Irving: “No, he can’t. I need to talk with him now. Send someone in, pull him out, and get him on the phone with me immediately.”
CIA: “I’ll see what I can do.”
If Wells goes after this too much, I’m guessing Fitz might have a followup witness to corroborate Grenier’s story about Irving’s urgency. If Irving threw his weight around with the person answering the phones for Grenier, that isn’t going to help matters.
Quickie blurb about Media Bloggers Assn. feeding the MSM (AP).
From Christy, Pach & Marcy – to bloggers – to the world!!
Hugh @ 17
So you’re saying ‘grenier’ sounds loftier than ‘loft’?
I think you’ve been drinking too much Gren(d Mar)nier
Ed*ard Teller’s [distaff] Sen is CSPAN 3 against the surge fwiw.
Is this news? Out of that loop.
but good on her.
Did a letter do something, maybe?
Blank Kludge @ 22
Yes, but she is also saying that Bush’s War should not be referred to as Bush’s War because that’s devisive. Perhaps Bush should have thought of that before implying that Democrats, by disagreeing with him, were in bed with the terrorists.
I’m confused–who’s winning so far, if anyone? Has anyone scored yet? When do we get to hear “Libby lied about X, Y, and Z”? Wells’s cross of Grossman seemed pretty effective–it went on much longer than the direct and seemed to indicate Grossman wasn’t sure of anything and didn’t count for much.
Wow. Great job, emptywheel!!!
I notice that Grenier thought that Plame might have briefed OVP on occasion.
Wow! This is really fascinating with Grenier. I can’t wait for the cross-examination.
So did Dick use his back channels to CIA to determine exactly who was Wilson’s wife and re-tell this to Irving after Irving had already heard it from Grenier? I don’t want to let go of my suspicions that it was a two-pronged attack against not only Valerie, but also Brewster Jennings…
but this is the really damning part of the testimony so far….
Second major point I made the people had verified that not only OVP, but also requests as well from State and Defense.
Here we have Grenier confirming that OVP WAS INVOLVED in getting Wilson sent — yet Libby (and the WH) went to great lengths to discredit Wilson by claiming OVP was NOT involved….
I didn’t read it that way. It’s hard to tel – not being there, and Marcy’s fingers must be killing her, but see Marcy’s line just above:
How much else I said I don’t recall. I may have mentioned debrief was written up.
Second major point I made the people had verified that not only OVP, but also requests as well from State and Defense.
I read it as his saying that OVP had been interested in seeing the de-brief.
jmo
New thread!
None – The prosecution is winning. The defense questioning is always longer WRT to government witnesses for the simple fact that they have to try and discredit the gov’t witness with a “see what shit might stick” approach. The gov’t gets to be focused with its witnesses. Grossman will NOT have sounded “confused” to the jury.
Thanks for the coverage again – While i do not exactly feel like I am there I feel as I am more up to date and informed than the average American. This is all very interesting and something everyone should be following. You would be surpirised how many people here at work pass by and ask what I am readin on my break and I say “Live blogging from the Scooter Libby Trial”. 9 out of 10 of them say “who’s trial?”. Now, how many were watching the OJ trial daily and ultimately which is more important to our nation?
I took this to mean that the State and Defense depts. were interested in finding out about the trip as well as the OVP, too.
GSD @
13
He should have said Freedom?
Marcy –
Please try to indicate more clearly who is speaking
In several cases it is very hard to follow.
Question marks would help.
Some sort of:
notation would be fantastic (perhaps set up keyboard shortcuts, for speed?), if possible.
But as it is it is sometimes very hard to tell what is a question and what is a response.
–MarkusQ
P.S. Thank you for everything! I’m loving every minute of this.
Thanks once again ladies. Absolutely fascinating way to follow something so important. Off to lunch.
Riveting. Thank you so much for doing this. I have to catch a plane out to the west coast in an hour, and am so frustrated I can’t follow this in real time. Your reporting is incredible.
Please take care of your hands and wrists. And thanks again for all your work and insight.
Hugh at 17
Grew up in Manchester, NH. The airport was called Grenier field. And it was at that time…
you just made me smile for the first time in a week, thanks.
I grew up next door to a step mother for one of the guys who posed for the Iwo Jima photo. And the McCarthy trials on the radio as first thing I can recall.
OT, had to wait an HOUR after work to get into following what is going on, and the server is going ON about a white page with ‘Do you Yahoo?’ Bitch-slapped it but didn’T work, and now in, it’s more than susepenseful.
Have been following this for years, but just lurk. If you leave a country, you do not have the right to criticise—unless they affect you directly. So I lurk
But this is an exception. And everyone is finally doing a good job at digging for the truth. Thanks to all who makes this even possible in this day and age.
Nite. Will catch up tomorrow.
And OH, BTW!!!!! OUR MSM newspapers report that there is a big flap regarding the concert the Vienna’s Boy Choir is supposed to give in New York. THEY want them to include ‘Edelwei’ as in the Sound of MUSIC, because they Seem to think it it is our national anthem and it isn’t, and they don’t want to (shades of rebellion here? It wasn’t a hit in this country, it flopped.= So if they DON’T, no concert in New York. How about that…
The world went insane when we smoked in football stadiums.
The fumes…
Nite
Did Libby talk about the name or identity of the press person. It was woman. The name was Cathie.
What took so long for her name to come up? *g*
I briefly felt guilty,
guilty, guilty, fucking GUILTY as hellthat I had relayedWAYtoo muchRethug Party helpful ass coveringinformation. I was going through a mentalmasturbationjustification about why it was alright to have relayed this to Mr. Libbyand his fucking press officer(!) bitch that we thought Ashcroft would handle for us until it got like, serious. Fucking FBILove that word “guilty”.
“12:23
What were you going to reveal?
We weren’t worried about revealing that Wilson went on the trip–he had outed himself.”
He had “outed” himself?????????????????????
p.lukasiak @
16
DING DING DING!
Lotsa time and energy spent on a lowly old diplomat who just happened to be married to the covert operative in charge of the CIA’s WMD-hunting network in Iraq.
New Thread, same great live blogging!
Linda @ 38
What this means is – they weren’t worried about disclosing it was Wilson that went to Niger. Joe Wilson disclosed it.
But Grenier definately was having butterfly’s over “adding” that Mrs. Wilson worked in CPD to Libby.
not only OVP, but also requests as well from State and Defense.
What was his response to hearing that State and Defense had also been interested.
Asked if CIA would be willing to release that publicly.
Why is Libby so keen for it to come out that it was not the OVP that led to the Wilson trip?
Was someone accusing the OVP of causing the whole mess, Wilson’s accustaion that the WH had lied in the SOTU? Was Bush’s office accusing Cheney’s office, and Cheny’s office was desperate to point the finger elsewhere? Seems wierd, because who really cares how the trip came about? What does it have to do with how to rebut the accusation?
stingray >
This is all about “frat rat” bureaucratic games
“Yes, you did !”
“No, I didn`t !”
“Yes, you did !”
“No, I didn`t !”
etc…
Rat fu*kin 8 year olds
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact….Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” – newshog@gmail.com
You don’t get convictions with a witness who says:
particulalry when you are trying to prove that Libby not only got the info but had to remember the details of the conversation
That was damning. Nice, Fitz!
Phoenix Woman @ 39
Lowly old diplomat??? Thanks a lot
bellesouth @ 31
Yes, back in January 2002. But recall that throughout this whole affaire that the OVP has denied that they knew ANYTHING about Wilson’s trip, any summary of his debrief, and especially that they had expressed to the CIA that they look deeper into reports of the rumors of the Niger “yellowcake” deals.
Cheney said that he had no clue about such a trip until Wilson’s leaks and editorial.
But here we have Grenier telling Libby that not only did OVP inquire about the Niger deals to the CIA, but so had State and Defense. So Libby knew that he couldn’t simply impugn Wilson by saying “release what you know about the mission” in it’s totality…he needed to get the CIA to spin it…by deleting the OVP from those that triggered the trip occurring…and shifting the trigger to State, the Pentagon and the CIA…in particular making it look like a “boondoggle” initiated by Plame.
Testimony by Harlow (the CIA Information Officer) and “Kathie” (Scooter’s Asst) will show exactly that the OVP was to be deleted from mention…wanna bet!