(Photo credit Larry Downing/Reuters)
To say it was tense in the courtroom as we were waiting for a verdict would be an understatement. My heart was pounding in my chest as it all started to become real for me, all we'd done, how far we'd come.
Libby was stoic and Mrs. Libby daubed her eyes as the verdict was read. Nobody on the prosecution showed much emotion but Zeidenberg held his head in his hands. Libby himself was seated between Wells and Jeffress. He did not move.
Afterwards Mrs. Libby came up and hugged Jeffress profusely, then Wells, saying "love you, love you" with much emotion. Then all the rest of the defense team. She didn't hug Scooter however, or hold his hand, or even make eye contact.
Wells said he would make a statement in the hallway in 10 minutes, and Fitzgerald will give one on the courthouse steps.
It's a good day to be an American, huh?
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Way to Go America!
fitz!
Jane/christy/marcy/team plame!
JUSTICE!
Say kids, what time is it?
It’s Merry Fitzmas time!
;>)
Yay!
Bush has nothing to lose by pardoning Libby.
FITZ!! Jane! Marcy! Redd!!
Fitz on CNN right now!
At a minute before 12 EST, http://www.radioparadise.com, a fantastic Internet radio station, began playing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Coincidence? I think not.
FITZ!
Finally!
A GREAT day to be an American. One down…
Merry Fitzmas everyone!!!
FITZ!
FDL!
Anwaya at 20…(the reply WASN’T working fromt he previous thread)
This and Walter Reed. What kind of bounce from 30%?
I say to -10% to 27%…others? ____%?
Fitzmas! (Yay!!!)
Okay, anyone have any ideas what happens with Sealed vs. Sealed now?
major props to FDL! Thank you Jane, Christy, Marcy, and the whole crew….
Major hugs for you, Jane, and to Christy, Pach, Swopa, Marcy, RBG, and everyone who made this live-blogging thingy work so well.
And thanks to Patrick Fitzgerald, Valerie Plame Wilson, and Joe Wilson, for standing up for what was right.
Thank you so much for the play-by-play. Time to make another donation – this one in honor of Fitz.
I am still waiting for it all to soak in.
Jane and Christy and Marcy and Pach: You all rock!
FDLers will now suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
Yes!
(Pumps fist in air)
I got it exactly right: Guilty on all counts but Count 3.
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..ent-514485
(BTW, this was when most people still thought it would only be guilty on 3 counts, with “not guilty”’s on both the Cooper charges)
Merry Fitzmas to all of you Firepups, may you be warm and wag your tail by the fire.
I don’t mean to piss on the parade, but I assume that Scooter will not see a day of prison time. He’ll string out the appeals as long as he can, and Dubya will pardon him the day before he leaves office — either January 2009, or the day before the Senate votes to convict him.
Remember that Poppa Bush pardoned all of the Iran/Contra scoundrels before leaving office. And the President’s power to pardon is unlimited and unreviewable, Dubya doesn’t even have to piss around with the Constitution to do it.
Libby may also have some ugly dirt on Bush & Cheney that he’s threatening to leak if he doesn’t get a pass.
Above all, bear in mind that there is nothing so rankly corrupt that Dubya wouldn’t do it. I just don’t see how this plays out any other way.
Time to hit the PayPal button…
Doin’ the Snoopy Dance
Oh and a check is on the way. I finally got the check I was expecting and some of it is coming your way for all the wonderful things you do.
Thank you so much everyone.
We got the truth back.
Thank you, jury.
De-lurking to serve up an enormous thanks to all at FDL for your foresight, dedication, and smarts.
Jane, Marcy, Christy and everyone else: thank you for everything. And if you bump into Libby, let us know if he says “Pardon Me”…
Thank you, FDL.
OK, that’s step one.
The sand has been cleared from the umpire’s eyes. Now the real work begins.
Major congratulations to Fitz and the prosecution for moving swiftly and effectively. A tip of the hat to Jeffress for getting an acquittal on count 3. That was a very effective cross-examination.
Today’s a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate
And they’re giving me a wonderful potion,
‘Cos I cannot contain my emotion.
And even though I’m feeling good,
Something tells me I’d better activate my prayer capsule.
(excerpts from “Supper’s Ready”, by Genesis)
Will the WiFi allow you liveblog Fitz’s statement?
EPU’d from previous
Congratulations Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach and all the rest that made this coverage so very very professional, so personal and so damn GOOD!
Yes, it is a great day to be an American.
I’m sure Pach will forgive it just this one more time: FITZ !!!
PS – annx @28 (previous), are you who I think you are? email fullcircle
de lurking to say YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY and thank you all for your play by play and commentary!!!!
Gotta say: emptywheel, you so called it on Count III. Excellent analysis work. Apparently the jury felt the evidence on the other counts was plenty strong enough to convict on a reasonable doubt standard…
I’m wondering about Wells’ motion for a new trial. What’s his basis gonna be – that Libby was convicted with only 11 jurors? (cough)
I love the fact that Raw Story was reporting that Marcy Wheeler said there will be a verdict in 15 minutes!!
and this:
According to blogger Marcy Wheeler at DailyKos, a May 15 deadline has been set for the government’s sentencing report.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0306.html
wow!!!
I feel so proud for you all for sticking thru all this and proud of the jury for holding the govt’s feet to the fire. I would not have been surprised if he had been found not guilty, but that is because of my loss of faith and increase in cynicism. slowly, but very surely, this type of justice will bring me back into the faithful and hopeful.
Giant thanx and great appreciation to FDL for a superior job. I can’t thank you guys enough.
“The results are actually sad, sad that we had a situation where we had an official, a person who worked in the office of the vice president, obstructed justice and lied under oath. We wished that that had not happened, but it did.” – Fitz
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
And thank you many times, oh good FDL’ers.
guilty…
a weight is off my mind
we’ll greet Fitz’s comments with new hope
Thank you, Jane, EW, Redd, Pach, TRex, and all the FDL’ers.
Thank you, jury.
Thank you, Fitz!
HuffPo is reporting four and half months till sentencing?
Is that right? Seems an awfully long time. Or does this mean that Libby will have to start serving before his appeals are finished?
GONZALES HAS STARTED A NEW LIST OF PROSECUTORS TO FIRE.
1. FITZ
2.
Damn my Liberal wussification! – I feel sorry for the bastard already. Ah well, he could have just told the truth.
So now Fitzgerald says, “We can help you get a light sentence if you’ve got anything you’d like to tell us,” right?
Our fellow citizens on the jury did their duty, did it conscientously, and delivered justice in accordance with our Constitution. I salute them, one and all.
A great day for our nation, indeed.
The irony that Fitz scores BIG on the same day that his brethern and sistren are testifying on the Hill for being fired for doing exactly what Fitz has done does not escape this simple near-lurker.
Fox News pulled the plug on the Fitz statements… they can’t take the truth!
Bush won’t pardon this treasonous man if the public outcry is loud enough.
It’s not as if Libby was involved in the spying or tampering of political enemies. That can be forgivable. Libby was involved in the coverup of CIA operative outings. This is national security, and this country has executed Americans in the past for fucking with our national security. Remember who the Rosenburgs were??
When Fitzgerald is through with this case, and gets to to who was responsible, you better be prepared for the death penalty to be mentioned. As is the common language in our government — All options are on the table.
I hear the clot in Cheney’s leg is scheduled to give a deposition today.
Does Libby get to talk to Fitzgerald prior to the sentencing hearing? That is, if there is anything he wants to get off his chest at this time?
Cranky
great comment on the DKos thread (not linking, to lighten the server load):
first q is rushed and mumbly, asking about criticism of Fitz, if Fitz thinks the verdict justifies the investigation.
To Cristy, empty, Jane, pach and any of you at firepuppy I may have omitted:
Thanks again for a wonderful job.
And congratulations !!
Congrats to Joseph and Valerie Wilson (Plame) and THANK YOU FUTURE PRESIDENT FITZGERALD AND ALL HERE AT FIREDOGLAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn i wish I was @ a bar so I could buy one massive fuc***g round for all of you!!!!
Thank YOU to everyone at FDL to your FABULOUS reporting on the Libby trial.
Regadless of what happens next, these words warm my heart:
Bush administration official, Scooter Libby, CONVICTED Felon.
Who-hooo. Kiss that law license good-bye baby!
you ROCK!
oh, and
MERRY FITZMAS!
A great day!
I adore Fitz!
Oh happy day!
Marcy, Jane, Christy, Pach, and everyone here:
Thanks so much for all your hard work.
Ach — Fitz saying he doesn’t expect further indictments. Going back to our day jobs. Investigation inactive unless new information comes to light.
ARGGHHH.
Thank you FDL!! My next click will be PayPal.
Now Scooter Bush and Cheney have criminal records.
Do most Americans know Bush Cheney are the first President & VP to enter office with criminal records?
Feces does not fall far from the toilet.
Finally it is a great day to be an American, after years of wondering what more our government could do to alienate the rest of the world.
Oh. My. Dog. Liberty and justice for all and the whole nine yards. You guys are absolutely awesome!! This whole thing gives me hope. And that’s been in short supply for the past six years. Cheney, are you loving that corner you’re backed into? Let’s see that snarl. C’mon. Just a little one? Woo hoo!!!!!
Harry Reid calls for the ” no pardon” rule on Scooter…Wells is very disappointed in the jury. Really? He does believe in the justice system still…Wells gave a minute statement and ran away from the cameras…
FOX NEWS is trying to figure out all the angles how Libby can get off…Another host is telling us how busy his life is and he couldn’t remember much of his own conversations…
Here’s comes Fitzmas..
He says the results were sad because a person who worked in the OVP lied under oath and was fouind guiltyy…Q&A’s starting…I’ll have video soon…
http://www.crooksandliars.com/
Big thanks to Marcy, Jane, Christy, Pach, and everyone else who have worked so hard for so long bringing us this story.
First the Walter Reed hearings, then the Scooter verdict, and now it appears things are going poorly for the deciderer and (and Dominici, Wilson, and now Hastings) in the hearings on US Attorney purge.
And it’s only Tuesday – I wonder how many more wheels can come flying off the bus this week?
Damn, no more charges
I hope someone asks Fitz if he’s been leaned on to resign as US Attorney.
Many attaboys and attagirls to FDL for coverage of the trial.
Four out of Five
doctorscounts!Or, it counts that the defense couldn’t doctor the evidence over doctoring the evidence.
Waiting for the Libby’s presedential sneeze: pardon me, he sez.
Fitz has it right. Lying under oath hurts the system of justice…
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!
c-span 2 streaming Fitz right now…
Fitz mentioned “the office of the vice president” in the first minute of his statement and is now refusing to answer a question about Cheney, presumably because Cheney still falls under the special prosecutor’s official duties…
But he just said that “the investigation is inactive.”
Cheney is toast whether Fitz continues on or not. The question is in the air: Bush said anyone involved would not work in his administration. Time for Cheney to split for Paraguay.
Is tha Jane I hear asking Fitz questions?
Libby guilty? I have only one question… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAbNTJTpFgg
.
.
.
Darth’s ‘Head on a Stick?’ http://www.rawstory.com//news/….._0220.html
$50.07 to PlameHouse. If there was any doubt left about the value here…
Kick down dogs!
Yes, Jane. It’s a great day to be an American. Congratulations to all of you at FDL, Fitzgerald, Joe and Valerie, the Jury, and Judge Walton. This and hearings on the fired prosecutors. Who knows, maybe someday soon we’ll be proud to show our passports again!
Glad you guys are back up and running!
Thanks for all of your hard work.
I’d love to know they jury’s thoughts on Scooter and the case as a whole.
Thank you kindly, JaneMarcyChristyPach and everyone else who has contributed to this amazing and pioneering coverage.
Justice is oh so sweet.
Fitz asked if he is going to file report. He says he is not an independent counsel. Bound by laws of grand jury secrecy. Can’t talk about people not indicted. No independent counsel statute. No reports. (Takes a slam about Ken Starr (”criticism of past independent counsels who filed reports full of things they weren’t willing to charge”).
Too bad … but he’s leaving the door open, maybe Skooter gets a bit more talkative now?
Very strange responses over at CNN.
For instance, why would it be “bad news” that a movie would be made of this, according to journalists?
Ms. Collins started blathering about whether or not Ms. Plame was covert or not. Fortunately, I think it was Toobin, corrected her and added how that has ALREADY is a dead horse that has been beaten over and over again.
The journalists giggled inappropriately about how the appeals and everything will play out and Libby will probably not ever see the inside of a jail cell.
Wow… PARTISAN much? Care for providing a little neutrality in your coverage, CNN? Remember, CNN, not all of us are rooting for this administration to escape justice just because most of you are part of that upper 1% of income earners getting MASSIVE Paris Hilton tax cuts.
Libby Verdict: Guilty on Four of Five Counts
Original CNN Chyron: Libby Not Guilty On One Count.
I shit ye not.
Great work everyone. I hope you feel proud that you – Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, and everyone else – helped make this country understand what happened in this case. I wouldn’t have followed this story for the last two years if it wasn’t for you guys.
Celebrate tonight. Snoopy Dance! Hey Ya!!
Merry Fitzivus Everybody! Merry Fitzivus! Have wonderful life in jail, Scooter!
To Joe and Valerie,
Thank you SO MUCh for all you’ve endured. We know you have much more to go through, and we’re with you all the way. Justice has been served for now. May justice prevail, as you continue to.
To the FDL team,
What can I say, but THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
What is up with “the investigation is inactive”?
Shouldn’t Fitz pursue Cheney’s (possible) obstruction?
Thank you FDL Team.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Lots of love.
Sooo, what’s next? Will the pressure start to build on Cheney?
(first he takes a world tour, then he gets sidelined by DVT. How conveeeeenient,)
What the wingnuts over at justoneminute don’t get is even if there are grounds for appeal, the issues have to taint every single count. Even if Libby wins on appeal, it is the equivalent of a hung jury and the prosecution has the option of a retrial. I think Bush has no choice but to pardon because to not pardon is craven in this case. When I say craven, I mean that Libby was not lying for himself, he was lying for his masters. It is incumbent on those masters to protect their loyal retainers.
Thanks for all your hard work. Now go relax,and enjoy.
corrected her and added how that has ALREADY is a dead horse that has been beaten over and over again.
should be:
corrected her and added how that is a dead horse which has already been beaten over and over again.
Punaise at 48 (my reply isn’t working)
great comment on the DKos thread (not linking, to lighten the server load):
Somewhere in Heaven. . . (9 / 0-)
Molly Ivins is drunk off her ass and loving every minute of this.
by IndyScott
This is a great day for all of us plameologists!! This is what we have waited for for so long and now it’s done. I wish I felt more excited, kinda like christmas where you almost got that toy you wanted, or you did, and it just didn’t make you happy enough. Maybe that’ll happen when we see who else they go after. Congrats to Valerie and Joe!!! You deserve this.
MOLLY!
I’m with everyone else saying, “Great job, FDL!” You guys rock.
Thank you all for your hard work, and thanks to all your friendly blogs who helped out in the hour of need. What is it about FDL that pulls everyone together? It must be christy and jane.
Fitz not commenting on possible sentence. Admits he got worried during jury deliberations. Fitz asked to comment on Libby and Cheney not testifying. “No.”
“Lawyers make decisions. We have our own reactions, but we have to deal with the witnesses who show up. It affected the voir dire process, but in the end we got a very fair jury.”
And thank you team FITZ. I don’t know if you are reading this but, thank you for demonstrating to the nation and world that there are still men and women of integrity in the country.
Thank you.
I sure hope this small pictre comes through this time.
treason’s greetings . . . THE assPawns have turned fer sure….
HAPPY DAY!
It’s Fitzmas!
Thank you Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach and the gang. You guys have rocked from the gitgo. Make that post-verdict party a memorable one!
Great work to all FDL’ers.
Fitz is correct. This is a sad time for our country. That is the correct tone.
Also, I cannot celebrate until Cheney and Bush are brought down. If Fitzgerald is truly going after Cheney, then let us attend to that.
To use a baseball metaphor (as Fitz is wont), this is a win in the first game of the World Series. You have more to go. Don’t celebrate until you reach your goal.
God knows we need something to celebrate, so I’m partially being faux stern. But personally, I can’t get too excited as long as the main villains are free to plot and destroy this country and this world.
Looks like Operation Character Assassination will be implemented by Barbara Comstock at any moment.
My advice to Pat Fitzgerald, use your shredder and your incinerator when at home.
-GSD
Well, if the investigation is, as Fitz says, now “inactive,” does that mean that Joe and Valerie Wilson can get the ball rolling on their civil suit?
From AP (no link to preserve server):
Huh? What has he been smoking?
“It was important to establish that Cheney learned from official sources, and that Libby first learned from Cheney.”
Fitz rocks. What a day! Thanks FDL!
Servers be damned!!! Thank you with all my heart to all of you who have committed to the truth and been willing to sacrifice to bring it…and you brought it to us on platter. Holy cow!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it.
The CIPA / Cheney / jury selection question sounded like it came from a FDLer.
Oh frabjous day! Thanks to all, including Gabbly (where i watched it being announced)!
(Not allowed alcohol during workday – otherwise I’d go our for a glass of bubbly!)
Fitzmas!
Love and congrats to Marcy, Jane, Christy, Pac, et al.
Listening to Fitz at the news conference, it’s easy to see why it was so difficult to “live blog” his presentation in court. He is a fast speaker!!! But he’s SO wonderful: honorable, seeking of the truth, articulate, etc. A glimpse of what this country could be.
Fitz says the reporters here did not get whistleblowing tips. Libby not a whistleblowing. Reporters weren’t just reporting. Witnesses to a crime.
Congratulations all you hardworking Firedoggies!
Rest assured, when your servers are crashing they sound exactly like VICTORY!
Thank you FDL’ers…Thank you Fitz team!
David Shuster at MSNBC has coverage of Libby leaving courthouse with wife. No posing today, and somehow I feel sorry for them.
Google has 7 pages of verdict announcement.
What item will trump the Libby verdict in the MSM. A new Anna Nicole Smith news item…
It is a great day to be an American. FDL has done a great service shining light on this case. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Should the End of the Bush Presidency Countdown Clock be officially tied in to the Libby Pardon Clock?
-GSD
I’m so happy — thanks for everything FDL’ers.
Huzzah!
Fitz just said no doubt Plame was classified.
Thank you all for all your hard work on this. A round of applause and gracious thanks to Fitzgerald and his entire team . . . for shining a spotlight on the grimy underbelly of this administration when the “liberal media” wouldn’t. Whatever happens from here on out, today was a great day for justice.
I haven’t felt this good in years!
“I would say this, it’s not the verdict that justifies the verdict, it’s the facts. I think if people would step back and look at what happened here, when the investigation began in the fall on 2003 and then got appointed to special counsel at the end of 2003, what is NOW clear is what we knew at that time. By that point in time we knew that mr Libby had told a story, that what he had told reporters had come not from other govt officials but from reporter Tim Russert. Its also now public that by that point in time FBI had learned that Tim did not tell mr libby that information. in fact russert didn’t know it, tim russert could not have told him. and for us as investigators and prosecutors to take a case where a high level official is telling a story that the basis of his information wasn’t from govt officials but came from a reporter, the reporter had told us that was not true. Other officials had told us the information had came from them. We could not walk away from that. And to me, it’s inconceivable that any responsible prosecutor would walk away from the facts we saw in Dec 2003 and say ‘There’s nothing here, move along folks’. And one responsibility we have as prosecutors is we cannot always explain what we do, why we charge or why we don’t charge. At the end of the day, if we look you in the eye and say we made a decision charges are not appropriate, we have to feel comfortable ourselves that that’s the case. And none of us on the team could walk away from what we knew in the Dec 2003, so we brought charges, we went to trial, and we proved the case, so the facts justify themselves…”
Did y’all see this over at WaPo?
Cool beans!
FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go, Jane. Savor the moment.
Fitz reiterating that Plame’s relationship w/ CIA was classified, even tho’ not issue in trial.
Thank you everyone at FDL. You saved my sanity this winter.
Everybody kiss your Peanuts- it’s Fitzmas.
Can’t wait for the smackdown on Olbermann tonight!
Thank you Patrick Fitzgerald.
Fitz nails it without any doubt– she was classified.
Hear that Babs and Victoria?
Hear that MSM?
I’m actually supposed to be working.
Fat chance.
Congrats to all the FDL crew. WIthout you this would have been all too under the radar.
I am so dissappointed that fitz says there will be no more charges made. I do not trust congress to do its duty.
Building upon the incredible, years long effort by the Firedoglake team, culminating in this powerful liveblogging experience, i assume we all, together, will be holding some feet to the fire.
My gratitude to Jane, Christy, Marcy, the whole fine team, the amazing commenting community, for a truly uplifting experience in my life.
Was that Jane asking Fitz questions?
I do hope Fitz’s remarks at the mike about the investigation now being inactive were especially chosen since the sealed Indictment reflects work already done.
Is there a chance of a group picture of you grand folk who have kept us so immaculately informed?
Over at Drum some of the trolls, in their usual dumbness having paraded their (d)troll certainty of Not Guilty right up to midday, are getting gleefully smacked to pieces.
Yee Ha! Again, thank you, thank you ladies, and Pachacutec.
In a Rare Public Appearance, Valerie Plame to Discuss Plamegate with Keith Olbermann
On behalf of People For the American Way and Political Clout Productions, we are proud to invite you to be present, as an extraordinary public servant, Valerie Plame, is interviewed by a champion of the First Amendment, Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s “Countdown.”
http://tinyurl.com/ynnerw
On Saturday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m. in New York City, Valerie Plame will make the first public appearance since the beginning of the Scooter Libby trial to discuss her life and the personal battle she and her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, are fighting against the most powerful officials in the nation. It is a battle they are waging largely alone, a battle the Congress of the United States would not join, a battle that the news media shied away from, a battle few have the courage to fight.
It’s appropriate that the interview will be conducted by Keith Olbermann, a journalist who himself has demonstrated great courage and a profound sense of public duty. The MSNBC Countdown host challenged the abuses of power as few others did when a single party controlled the White House and Congress. In his “Special Comments,” Olbermann has had the courage to speak truth to power.
It should be a remarkable evening as these two defenders of the First Amendment sit down together on March 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are limited.
We hope you will join us in welcoming and celebrating this courageous individual.
Click here to purchase tickets for this event.
http://tinyurl.com/2fbq3v
2nd q: “Is part of the reason you couldn’t walk away from this case the seriousness of the lies, in the sense that the information concealed the role of the office of the VP?”
Did y’all see this over at WaPo?
Get your Toensing questions submitted: I’m sure Jeralyn will answer.
Sticky Vickie was the first interviewee lined up by Faux News, btw.
juror is on msnbc
Fireworks from Taipei
Let’s see if Scooter’s singing voice improves once he’s been sentenced. It’s one thing to afford to stay out on bail, but money can’t buy him out of jail. If Fitz can get him to flip, Shooter might be put in our sights yet.
Fitz statement over. I must go to boring lunch meeting.
Once again, thanks to the FDL live-blogging and commentary team for their incredible hard work.
Thanks to all of the posters here — experiencing the trial with you all has been fantastic.
A JUROR WHO WAS A FORMER REPORTER IS SPEAKING. OTHER JURORS DON’T WANT TO TALK.
Dang you punaise at 48! *sniffle*
It is a good day to be an American. I’m not sure today offsets the feeling I’m getting reading Blowback by Chalmers Johnson, but it is a very good day for “the system.”
Patrick Fitzgerald is someone to admire. He is a government employee who simply works his rear-end off, plays by the rules and calls him as he sees’em – no hype, no spin.
Firedoglake has provided the best live reporting using the written word that I have ever seen. I hope Firedoglake will continue. Emptywheel and Christie Hardin Smith are right up there with Fitzgerald as citizens to admire. I for one would be delighted to pay for a subscription to Firedoglake’s future efforts. I’ve made a modest contribution. I hope others have and will. It will be an especially good day to be an American if Firedoglake continues its work.
Many thanks for a job superbly well done.
I would really like to thank all of the FDL crew for what you did in the coverage of this trial.
The blogosphere really trumped the MSM in coverage of this unfortunate event, and you guys were the ones who did it.
Watching this trial through firedoglake has definitely been entertaining and educational. You’ve given a non-legal type information that is easily digestible. Thanks for all your hard work.
This verdict is a victory. It may not stand through the appeals process but at least for today, we know that the justice system can work.
Juror interview on MSNBC: “we had about 34 post-it pages”
Fitzgerald says without new information his investigation is now inactive. Am I crazy or is this a job for the House of Representatives?
Juror Dennis Collins describes the deliberation process according to the exact processed we guessed.
Joe Wilson to be on KO tonight per MSNBC
Joe Wilson on with KO tonight. Should be good.
Thanks to all of you — Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, Swopa and crew.
Thank you Fitz for believing that “Truth is the engine of our judicial system”. The thread of truth many have been hanging onto has turned into a cord.
Glad we don’t have to be refreshing and refreshing so much!
Thanks so much to Jane and the rest of the Gang from the FDL Ranch!
Former reporter/juror says Russert conversation was critical evidence.
The conversation was either false, or Libby was lying when he said he was surprised to hear about Ms. Wilson.
Talking about all the post-its, the building blocks of the case. Took a week. What we came up with was that Libby was told about Ms. Wilson at least 9 times, in a period in which despite us believing that he did have a bad memory, but Hannah said he had a good grasp of arguments — even if he forgot WHO told him about Ms. Wilson, it seemed very unlikely that he forgot ABOUT her.
Yay for Post-its!! 3M must be very happy today.
(maybe I should buy stock…hmm…)
“9 times” that Libby was told about Plame. Jurors did their homework.
new thread!
I’m so disappointed that the investigation has concluded. Does Congress have the guts to pursue the conspiracy perpetrated by WHIG to out a CIA agent to protect their lying us into war?
I delurk only to say….
FDL ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t put into words how much awe and respect I have for all the work done here. FDL is truly the embodiment of people-powered politics. Keep up the GREAT work!!!
Merry Fitzmas, all!! God Fitz us, every one!!
Eternal thanks to Marcy, Jane, Christy, Pach, Swopa and Jerralyn for the live blogging and your tireless work on this case.
WHOA! Juror said they wanted to know “where is Rove in all this” and the “other guys.” Woo Hoo!
Vice President Cheney, RESIGN NOW!
Jane, Marcy, Christy, LOVE YA!
Beer-thirty right F***ing now!
I’m pumped!
Thanks, y’all. Your outstanding job has set a standard for web logging of complex national events.
Congratulations to FDL. You are the beginning of the end of licensed spectrum and the mediocrity that has wrought in the end with the likes of Viacom, Time Warner and Fox.
Please note that it if Cheney or Bush has promised Libby, now a convicted felon, a pardon and Libby is now withholding evidence on the basis of that promise that possibility should be fully explored in the pre-sentencing report and whether Libby can be required to give a sworn statement in that regard.
It is annoying that someone as dangerous as Libby, the source for Judith Miller and that BS, is allowed to still walk around.
There was just so many things, it was just very hard to believe he could forget. Remembered it on Monday, forget it on Tuesday, remember it again on Thursday?
Sympathy for Libby. Where’s Rove, where are these other guys. What are we doing with this guy. Not saying he’s not guilty of what he’s charged with. But he was the fall guy. He was tasked by the Veep to talk to reporters. We never decided whether cheney told him exactly what to say.
Just remember why this all occurred. NEXT STOP?
This time, it will have to be Jenna and NotJenna announcing their upcoming appearance together in a Playboy photoshoot.
Take one for the team, girls
;>)
Sometimes I wonder why I still read the NY Times.
Here’s the lead to their story, which is the top story on nytimes.com
WASHINGTON, March 6 — I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted today of lying to F.B.I. agents and grand jurors investigating the unmasking of a C.I.A. operative amid a burning dispute over the war in Iraq.
The bolded part of the quote is the exact thing Scooter was NOT convicted of. Are these people morons?! Nevermind, I already know the answer to that question…
Meanwhile, here’s the lead for the WaPo.com story…
A federal jury today convicted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of lying about his role in the leak of an undercover CIA officer’s identity, finding the vice president’s former chief of staff guilty of two counts of perjury, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, while acquitting him of single count of lying to the FBI.
So much better, don’t you think?
We didn’t discuss what Cheney said, we weren’t assigend to do that.
“What do you think?”
I can’t say.
Fitz:
I’ll just say this, any lie under oath is serious. Any prosecutor will tell you um, in my days in NY, in my current days in Chi, we cannot tolerate perjury. The truth is what drives our judicial system. If people don’t come forward and tell the truth, we have no hope of making the judicial system work. if someone knowingly tells a lie under oath in any investigation, it’s every prosecutor’s duty to respond by investigating and proving that if you can. And so that’s a serious matter in any case. It’s obviously a serious matter in a case here where there’s a national security investigation, so the nature of any person telling a lie under oath to a grand jury is a serious problem. Having someone, a high level official do that under oath in a natl security investigation is something that can never be acceptable, and that just made it mandatory that we persue it.
Thanks FDLers.
Mainstream media, take notes. This is how your job ought to be done.
I wish there were more indictments coming, but Pach is right, it is not appropriate to make a prosecutor responsible for important political issues, like holding this administration accountable.
Fitzgerald did his job. Now Congress and we have to do ours.
We never got to the point of doing a straw vote at the outset. We went over everything. There was too much to go over.
At last, O Lord, at long last! The jury has seen the light and justice is served.
Congrats to the wonderful, dogged Fitz and his team.
And heart-felt kudos to Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, Swopa, LHP, and all of the brilliant and perspicacious Plameologists here at firedoglake.
You’re the absolute best!
Are there Clintonesque ways of parsing Fitzgerald’s words denying further action? Like, the investigation is inactive because he already has what he needs?
I know people here have read up on his career to date. (1) When he’s gone from little fish to big fish, was it quick? (2) Would he be misleading about indicting Cheney, or is that the sort of thing he’d never do?
I assume that Scooter will not see a day of prison time.
Of course, I wouldn’t really care about this if all it meant was that he’s now useless to testify on Cheney’s behalf.
Bush has nothing to lose by pardoning Libby.
Except that he’s then immune, hence requirable to testify (after Jan 2009) on pain of contempt of court?
Cheers, everyone, from the home town of 3M!!
3rd q:
You made several references in the course of this trial and esp. in the closing to VP cheney and that the FBI and GJ deserved to know the truth from Scooter about the VP. Is there still information abt vp that you do not know? and 2ndly, do you believe the VP was truthful in his testimony to you?
Juror says the jury felt sympathy for Libby, that he was the fall guy, that he was tasked by the VP to go out and leak Valerie’s name.
Merry Fitzmas! An absolutely fabulous job by the FDL team. I’m looking forward to the civil trial.
Hey all,
Great job!
I hear some disappointment with the fact the investigation is dead.
It seems to me if you read between the lines of Fitzgerald’s statements, “unless new information comes to light” among other things, it seems Fitz knows the whole story and is now proceeding with caution to prevent premature pardon.
Now it is time for everyone to contact their senators and congressional delegates for a full scale investigation, without any further refusals from them based on “ongoing criminal investigation”.
The hardwork is finished by Fitz. The power of Congressional investigation must be applied in short order!
I think Fitz used his words carefully regarding the status of the investigation. He said it’s “inactive”, NOT that it’s concluded or over. I think a singing Libby would make the case very much “active” again.
It’s obviously a serious matter in a case here where there’s a national security investigation, so the nature of any person telling a lie under oath to a grand jury is a serious problem. Having someone, a high level official do that under oath in a natl security investigation is something that can never be acceptable, and that just made it mandatory that we persue it.
This sounds to me as though he’s saying he had to pursue Libby even if he doesn’t prosecute for the actual outing of Plame.
Some jurors wished they weren’t judging Libby.
Some jurors surprised the trial wasn’t about who leaked.
The Cooper false statement count, the conversation with Cooper, the Cooper version came from Cooper and Cathie Martin. But Martin walked away for part. So basically Cooper’s word against Libby’s word. If Cooper had gotten an affirmation of that information, it would have been confirmation of Rove, why didn’t he put it in story. Nothing in the notes. There was that thing about the sentence “ever” or “even.” Wells took a lot of time to say if this letter was this, and that letter was that, it wasn’t very convincing, it weighed about six ounces, it was reasonable doubt. We thought Cooper was credible. He probably was right about that. We spent about a day and a half assuming it was true (Cooper’s version).
Interesting, that was the jury’s definition of reasonable doubt. Something they really didn’t believe, that weighed only six ounces.
It would have been interesting to hear Cheney. When we heard Wells’ opening, I thought wow maybe Bush will testify. It would have been nice to hear Cheney.
Jury was so focused on facts, not policy. Didn’t get into that conversation.
Thank you, Jurors! You did a fantastic job. We were with you all of the way. Please drop by and say hi.
It’s great news! Even with a pardon by Bush on the way out, it’s great!
OK so here’s my dream Pres/Vice Pres ticket
Fitz/Keith O
Two men of intergity with morals and ethics.
Don’t get much better than that IMHO.
Ah, I’m seeing Fitz’s comments now about the investigation being inactive.
So, FDL gurus, is this how Fitz has worked in the past in major corruption cases? Has he called an investigation inactive until someone he’s just convicted flips?
fitz:
We don’t comment on… we try to treat everyone the same in our legal system. Noone is above the law, noone gets less protection under the law. And so we want to make clear that we don’t talk about people not on trial and that’s not a negative comment about anyone. We apply the same rules to the VP. Our comments in summation were directed to respond to an argument by the defense that they fairly made. We fairly responded and our point was that mr libby did not tell the truth to the system and what someone doesn’t tell the truth to the system everyone suffers. The legal system suffers because we don’t know what the actual facts are, and frankly lots of other people suffer since you don’t know what the truth is people draw all sorts of conclusions. All we’ll say is that mr libby, by lying, obstructing justice, harmed the system and that was something serious and that was the point we made to the jury, and obviously the jury agreed factually.
Can Andrea Mitchell be called as a witness in an appeal?
I think that the fact that the jury had sympathy for Libby will not help Libby’s appeal. He was the “fall guy” for the crime which was obstructed, but he was still convicted of lying and obstruction.
is anyone reading this, or should I stop?
Could the statement by Fitz that his investigation is stymied as a result of Libby’s perjury and obstruction be a factor that would INCREASE the penalties?
Is Fitz using this to INCREASE the sentencing guidelines toward Libby to compel cooperation?
~ National Security Issue?
~ Exposure of Classified CIA Identity?
~ Convicted Perjuror who is non-cooperative and blocking further investigation into possible conspiracy by high officials?
Juror statements indicate that they want more prosecutions…which cannot happen without Libby’s assistance…would that influence Walton’s decisionmaking?
Cooper charge took the most time to work out.
We had one unanimous decision right away. I think it was … I have it written down somewhere. What order did we do them in?
[He’s looking at a note.]
We didn’t care whether Libby lied to Cooper. The question about what whether he said what he claimed he said to Cooper.
What about Judy Miller testimony? It was important, we had so many conversations. Some people said she has a terrible memory, someone else said “who didn’t.” She admitted she had a bad memory, but the fact that she had the notebook entries was important. She got badgered by defense, created some sympathy for her.
God, I wish you could TiVO a computer. I have to go to my boring meeting, to which I am already late.
Love you guys!!!! Can’t wait for the team’s wrap-up commentary. FDL rocks!!!!!
Joe Wilson,
I know you are lurking out there.
Just stop in and say Hi!
j.cro @ 166
Umm, actually, there were two charges of lying to the FBI, one with respect to Russert and the other with respect to Cooper.
Scooter was convicted of lying to the FBI on the Russert related charge, along with three other counts.
There is an interesting series of posts over at d-kos examining the fact that Richard Armitage outed both the A Q Khan network suggesting that this network had been heavily infiltrated by the CIA and Valerie Plame. And taken in context with the emergence of Team B intelligence culminating in the OSP there is a vast curtain that still hangs over the apparent techniques of war mongering pursued by this administration. It is regrettable that Fitzgerald has decided to stand down with respect to the issues. But this is perhaps his professionalism and humility.
I likewise am prone to question that the concession made at this trial regarding the executive powers to declassify parts of the NIE in an ad hoc fashion reflects an unfortunate practicality here and an unwillingness to press the constitutional issues around the NIE and especially Plame that lurk in the background of this investigation. Maybe such a challenge in the end would have been unrealistic.
I know Armitage does present the appearance of being “no partisan gunslinger,” and in fact in testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the lead up to Iraq in characterizing the relationship of previous Republican administrations with Saddam Hussien Armitage stated “…clearly, our skrits are not clean in that regard.” And so the involvement of Armitage is problematic. Perhaps he should be called before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yet again.
I just liveblogged info from Fitz’s response and also juror Denis Colins (a former reporter) in the previous thread. Colins gives a lot of interesting information. It sure sounds like the jury was sympathetic to Libby because of Wells’ opening statement claiming Libby was the fall guy. But, it also shows how diligent they were. I love his description of how they had 34 full page post-its filled with details, and how they determined Libby intentionally lied.
Also, worth noting how they came to the one not guilty verdict. See previous thread so I don’t repeat myself.
one important note: Today is a day to celebrate justice by donating to FDL! If it wasn’t for the diligence and knowledge and dedication of the people here, the world would not be changing. We woudln’t likely have a Democratically led congress, we wouldn’t have investigations going forward regarding this administration. Who knows if we sould have had so much information about the Plame/Wilson leak in the public knowledge, if it wasn’t for them.
JGabriel @ 193
Thanks for clarifying. On first read it looks like they weren’t doing their home work.
I read further down and realized my gaff.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called on President Bush not to pardon Libby.
Bush needs to make this pledge.
Also, here’s Speaker Pelosi’s statement on the Libby conviction.
And Mr. Cheney, the man who Libby worked for and who refused to come forward and defend Libby, who Pelosi is speaking of in this statement? CNN says they had a reporter catch up with Cheney at the Capitol for comment, and he brushed by without a word.
inapropos,
citizensue @123:
as someone once said (paraphrasing), if i could kiss my peanuts i’d never leave the house.
I’m telling you, while the story is hot. push your Rep’s.
You know the drill! Bombard!
Netrootz!
It will push the story into the forefront!
Delurking from work to make a quick comment (the corp frowns on non-work use of PC)
Big thanks tp Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, and everyone making the blog coverage of this possible. All along the contrast between blog coverage and MSM (non) coverage has been striking. If it weren’t for you, no American outside the Beltway would be told the story of the slime tactics used by our Vice President and, in his approval of such actions, the President.
The Right Wing has been attacking you, and will continue to attack you for your patriotism in making sure the true story is told. They have powerful friends, and your guardianship of the truth is not without risk to yourselves. You may not feel it, but you are as brave as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin of our revolutionary war days. I am so proud of you, and so proud to be part of the netroot system that is standing for what is the right thing to do.
Oh, and one more thing: It’s Fitzmas!!!
Fitz and FireDogLake (and the pups) ROCK!!!!
Thank you all at FDL for all you’ve done (and will do)!
Thank you Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, Swopa, and everyone else. I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done. What was it that the Ol’ Norske guy used to say? “Keep the faith and keep your powder dry!”
Whatever.
4th q:
But in your summation, you said there was a cloud over the vp and there was a cloud over the WH. Do you think that cloud still remains after this verdict?
Fitz:
I said what I said in court. I’m not going to add to it or subtract from it. What was said in court was the defense argued that we put a cloud over the white house as if 1. we were inventing something or 2. making something up in order to convince the jury that they want to convict. I think in any case, where you feel that someone is making an argument that you are inventing something or improperly casting a cloud on someone you respond. And we responded fairly and honestly by saying there was a cloud there not caused by us, and by mr libby lying and obstructing justice he failed to remove the cloud. And sometimes when people tell the truth clouds disappear, sometimes they don’t. When you don’t know what’s happening, that’s a problem. And so the fact that there was a cloud over anyone was not our doing, it was the facts of the case, it was aggravated by mr libby telling falsehoods, and that’s what we said. We’re not going to add or subtract from that. That’s what we said in court and that’s the context in which we said it.
5th q:
Is the investigation over now, now that this trial is over, now that you have this verdict, is the special counsel investigation over?
Fitz:
I would say this… I do not expect to file any further charges, basically the investigation was inactive prior to the trial. I would not expect to see any further charges filed. We’re all going back to our day jobs. If information comes to light, or if new information comes to us that would warrant us taking some action we would, of course, do that. But I would not create the expectation that any of us will be doing further investigation at this point, we see the investigation as inactive.
Matalin on Libby verdict: “Unspeakable.”
Talk about the pot calling the kettle.
Congratulations and thanks to Jane, Christy, Marcy, Pach, and all the other Firepups!!!
Marvelous reportage!
fahrender to Haradan Matalin: Boo Fucking Hoo!
I can’t stand Bush, Cheney, the GOP, or their horrific stupid war, but when somebody goes down in criminal court it makes me nervous to say “It’s a great day to be an American.” A criminal trial knows no party or ideology, nor does the result. If you think it does, the next defendant may be you, and some flag-waving creep may be saying the same thing.
Great work.
Expats across the pond are grateful as well…
6th q:
would it be possible to make public a complete account of your investigation, including the testimony of many public officials, VP Cheney, Karl Rove, and others, whose own accounts were not involved in this trial?
Fitz:
And the short answer is no, I’m not an independent counsel, the independent counsel statute, many people may not appreciate does not exist anymore. What was different about an independent counsel from a regular prosecutor was that independent counsels would issue reports. They would either file charges or not file charges, and then they’d give a lengthy explanation of what they found. And that is different from what ordinary prosecutors do. We file charges and then we’re obliged to prove them, or we don’t file charges. There’s been criticism of whether independent counsels should be filing reports because sometimes you say things about people that you’re not prepared to prove in courts and that was, I think, and appropriate criticism of it. Whatever you think of the independent counsel statute, it doesn’t exist, I am not an independent counsel, I am bound by the laws of GJ secrecy, we’re bound by the laws that we don’t talk about people who have not been charged, so we are not going to be opening up our file drawers, handing them over to you guys or writing newspaper articles or magazine articles or books, or whatever you want to do. That’s not the system. And part of that, I think we ought to appreciate as citizens is fair. If you want people to come in and tell the truth, and you tell them, if you talk to us there’s GJ secrecy, there are protections for you, we have to live by our word. And we gave our word to have people talk to us, unless we’re going to file charges or it becomes public as it does at a trial, that’s it.
God Bless America, Patrick Fitz and FireDogLake. Every last one of us. Period.
7th q:
How will you feel if a pardon is granted in this case?
Fitz:
I’m not going to comment on things that have not happened.
q:
and what about an appeal in which you are asked to bring the case again, or a new trial, how would you go about that?
Fitz: (queues up humorous Fitz)
An appeal where we’re ASKED to bring the case again is different that one where we’re REQUIRED to do so (laughs all around). If we’re REQUIRED to do so, I would not be happy about that. Obviously, when we announced the case we announced that we would go to trial if necessary and seek to prove it and we did not predict an outcome out of respect for the process and respect for the jury. We obviously feel confident that we think the trial was a fair trial. We think it was an appropriate trial and we think that the jury’s verdict should stand. We think that the defense will likely pursue an appeal, out of respect for the appellate process we’re not going to predict how three judges who have not been selected will rule on an appeal not yet filed, based upon arguments not yet made. So we will respond appropriately, we’re confident in how the trial went forward but we’re going to respect the appellate process by not predicting an outcome.
Thanks bdu!
8th q:
Will mr libby have an opportunity to get a downward departure if he provides additional information?
Fitz:
We’re not going to comment about anything… Mr Libby is like any other defendant. If his counsel or he wishes to pursue any options they can contact us, but we’re going to treat him like any other defendant and not comment beyond that.
Good day to be an American? It will be, if we one day get America back. This verdict might help a little bit on that score but Libby and Cheney have already helped to destroy this country so much that we may never get it back.
I want to add my thanks for the fine public service you have been providing.
9th q:
What are the sentences?
Fitz:
I don’t know what range it is off-hand, I did not spend time looking at the guidelines. And we do think that Judge Walton will hear the govt’s position on sentencing when we file papers before him, so I’m not going to predict what the guidelines will be.
Burn, Scooter, burn!
Thanks to Firedoglake & all here for their exemplary coverage of the trial and all aspects of this prosecution. Tremendous job, folks. This is going to be remembered as one of the turning points for the “New Media” – where bloggers and citizen journalists started taking over the jobs that newspaper and TV reporters used to do.
This is an inspiring example of how the broken system of checks and balances is being repaired by the evolution of a new species to fill the vacuum in the environment.
And, of course, it is sweet to see the Hammer of Justice bang down on the head of one of the crooks&liars responsible for the shitty state of the country. Now, if only Scooter rolls on Shooter, we could have some real fun…
Thank you so much for your efforts in covering all of this.
You guys ROCKED my world!
Great job FDL!
This one ought to feel familiar to all us firepups!
10th q:
Did you ever worry after 10 days it was going on so much, and they were asking some qs about the charges, did you worry?
Fitz:
Of course I got worried. Lawyers are paid to worry, or… some paid more than others, we’re paid to worry. And when a jury goes out because there’s nothing we can do, we just sit around worrying about things we have no control over. You do your best on both sides, and you have no idea what’s going on so you just wait for the verdict.
(thanks to FDL for the lawyer speak, I would have just hear gibberish in this Q if it wasn’t for Christy, EW, Jane, and the whole FDL crew)
11th q:
Question abt VP Cheney not testifying… the CIPA hearings were predicated on the idea that Libby would testify. Some of the questions in the voir dire were predicated on Cheney testifying. Can you tell the public a little bit about your reaction when both of those turned out not to be the case?
Fitz:
Uhhh, no. (Ok, I giggled a bit on that one, it was a very “Duh” tone of voice)
Q (real quiet, paraphrasing): What impact do you think that had on jury selection and defense’s knowledge of your case?
Fitz:
All I can say is that obviously jury selection there was extensive questioning by the parties and the judge as to whether or not the possible appearance of the VP as a witness might effect how the jurors perceive the case and whether they could be fair. So obviously it effected jury selection, but beyond that, lawyers make decisions at trial on both sides as to whether or not to call witnesses. And the reason I said I couldn’t answer is, we have our own reactions but the bottom line is we have to try the case in court. And so, a witness shows up, you’re prepared to deal with the winess, if the witness doesn’t show up you move on to the next thing. We have enough of a time trying to figure out what we’re doing at our table and what’s coming next, so… I think it effected the trial in the voir dire process, but at the end of the day I think we got a very fair jury.
12th q:
The indictment says that they originally heard the identity of ms Plame from the VP, who had gotten it from someone in the CIA. Do you know abt that transaction between the VP and the CIA, how that came abt?
Fitz:
I won’t say anything beyond what was said in the trial and Mr Libby’s GJ testimony abt what he understood in the note. And the only relevance at that point was to show that Mr Libby had the information he gave out from an official source and understood that the VP had it from an official source not from a reporter. So that was the relevance and I don’t know if there was anything beyond that from the trial record.
Q:
Why was it important that the CIA was the person who (bg noise gets too loud, speaker gets too quiet, I think he asked why it had to be the CIA was the official source:
Fitz:
Well, it would be a very different case if the VP learned it from Mr Russert back in June and then told Mr Libby. If he was passing on a reporter’s rumor, that would be very different than if he was passing on official information. So the contention we made was that Mr Libby learned it from a number of officials, first learning it from the VP. And what was important to establish is that the VP learned it from official channels, that Mr Libby had an understanding that this was all official information, which is very different than saying it was a rumor he heard from a reporter.
(two more questions and then yield to mr juror who has come out)
13th q:
(paraphrase, these reporters are too damn quiet) How do you feel about giving Ari Fleischer immunity?
Fitz:
We think we made an appropriate decision, and I had no regret.
14th q:
If congress chooses to investigate the Plame leak, will you cooperate with them, make your records available to congress?
Fitz:
If congress does something or not, I’m not going to predict or say what they would do, we will do what’s appropriate, I have not had (crosstalk) parallel investigation, we will do what’s appropriate.
I second jcricket @ 199 for the record and would append that the importance of what fdl has done has only been equaled by a committee chaired by a simple country lawyer in bringing to public knowledge facts that otherwise would have been hidden from the light of day. Good on ye all and the mods, and the techies too. I rely fully on the internet for my information, you haven’t an idea of the respect you have earned and time will reveal the respect due to the Wilsons for their integrity, another vanishing meaning in today’s world. All the very best……
15th q:
Can you say in what ways you believe the investigation changed the nature of a reporters… deal with official sources and their promises, pledges of confidentiality?
Fitz:
I will say this, it’s probably… reporters can tell us how it’s effecting things. I think what people outta understand is what was unique about this case. What was unique about this case that was different than many other cases is that the reporters involved here were not just people who got whistleblowing tips. We do not think that what mr Libby was telling reporters was whistleblowing. Secondly, they were not reporting something that would not otherwise be heard, they were actually potential eyewitnesses to a crime. If someone is passing out classified information to a reporter that’s different. And I think what people have to understand is if the mission that you’re given is to find out whether the law has been broken, and you’ve been told that the story that the person gave to the FBI is false, that the information came from officials and not reporters, but their claim is that they told reporters the information and they made sure to tell the reporters that they knew it came from other reporters and they didn’t know if it’s true… you could not ever bring a case without talking to the reporters (bdu’s comment: EXACTLY what they were hoping would happen!). That would be irresponsible, because if the reporters came in and said that’s actually what he said, you would be charging someone who was innocent. And so by placing the information behind reporters, there was no choice but to find out from the reporters what that information was. And the situation where the person had already disclosed the confidences and waived the confidences, we think that was the appropriate way to proceed. We’re not saying that we shouldn’t be very careful, that we shouldn’t have atty gen guidelines, that we shouldn’t follow atty gen guidelines, that resorting to questioning reporters should be a last resort in a very unusual case. But I think what people should realize is that we never take that off the table. And there are times when govt. informants… we have confidential relationships that we have to breach, and that’s something we have to recognize. We can’t just say that this will never, ever happen, that we’ll never, ever ask a reporter about a source. And this was a case where it was appropriate.
16th q:
Was there clear evidence at the trial that the information about her was indeed classified?
Fitz:
The trial evidence, the judge made a ruling that we were not going to try the case abt whether the information was classfied. I can tell you that on the face of the indictment, it states that her relationship with the CIA was classified, and I have 100% confidence in that information. We would not put it in the indictment. We didn’t make it an issue at the trial because the issue was whether or not Libby perjured himself under oath. There’s no doubt that her relationship with the CIA was classified, and that’s just a fact.
17th q:
So this case and your investigation doesn’t necessarily become a paradigm for future investigations? Or do you think it will encourage others given the success you’ve had here?
Fitz:
I think people can look to any case for developments, but I think there’s a danger reading too much into it. I think people ought to look at the law, look at the facts, and then I think you have to be careful applying them to other cases, so… if it’s made clear what the circumstances were in this case I think other people will look to this case, people ought to look at it for what it is. A particular set of facts where reporters were eyewitnesses to a potential crime and reporters, if they did not testify, we could never get to the bottom of the questions here. And THAT’s what was key. If we did not question reporters, we could not answer the question of whether or not a lie was told, and in fact, talking to reporters proved a lie. And that’s a very unusual circumstance so I would just caution people to do it in context.
Thank you very much. (end of Fitz statements/questions)
I have to admit, I’m going to miss reading marcy’s blog and seeing Jane, Marcy and Christy on Politics TV.
Reading them was quite eye opening and I enjoyed it immensely.
This is STILL better than the Niners winning the Super Bowl.
Interesting, your observation that Mrs. Libby hugged all the members of the defense team, but did not touch or make eye contact with her husband after the verdict. I noticed in the video of Mr. and Mrs. Libby and their lawyers arriving at the courthouse, that Mr. Libby, who got out of the back seat of the car, stood by the door as several women got out (I’m assuming one was his wife) but did not offer any assistance or make any physical contact. Are things not well between Mr. and Mrs. Libby?
Jane, I’ve had one of my busiest days and just checked in. Boy, FDL et al did great and I am so proud of you and Fitz. And John, I would bet that things are not well. They have barely looked at each other as they’ve entered (on TV) over the past months. Tell me, who would want to be emotionally close to Scooter!
bdu – thank you very much for tvoing & transcribing fitzgerald’s statements on the courthouse steps. very important that you got that onto the record here in its entirety.
again – thank you very much for all you do behind the scenes.
best ~
You’ve got to be kidding! This is *not* a good day to be an American. When Nixon was impeached, I didn’t feel proud to be an American because justice was served, I was ashamed that he was elected twice. I am ashamed today that we have only managed to prosecute a chief of staff. Even if Bush and Cheney were to be impeached, it would not be a great day for Americans. Our system, corrupt and corrupting, ruled by corporate interests that we the people support in our media-lulled mindlessness, brought them to power.
Congrats to the FDL crew. Good job on all aspects, especially perserverance. One small note: “daubed” means to deposit something quickly on a surface, like paint. I think the word you wanted was “dabbed,” as with a hankerchief.
I am curious about Libby’s immediate disposition. Will he now be remanded to custody, or is he temporarily free pending sentencing? It is imperative that these neocon thugs spend as much time as possible in cages, so I hope Libby’s term begins promptly. This man committed purjury to protect people who committed grievous acts of treason.
perjury