Why did Libby meet Judith Miller in a hotel to talk? Don't they have telephones?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-30-miller-libby-trial_x.htm

Reporter's testimony contradicts Libby's timeline

WASHINGTON — Lewis "Scooter" Libby told New York Times reporter Judith Miller the identity of a covert CIA officer in the two weeks before Libby said he learned about the agent from another reporter, Miller testified Tuesday.
Miller was the seventh witness in Libby's perjury and obstruction of justice trial to say she talked with Libby about the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame before Libby said he learned of Plame's identity.

The meetings between Miller and Libby in 2003 came as Bush administration officials were trying to counter claims by Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, that the administration had trumped up prewar intelligence.

An attorney for Libby quickly challenged Miller's credibility, establishing that she had forgotten about one meeting before she found notes from that encounter in a shopping bag 2½ years later.

Miller detailed meetings on June 23, 2003, in Libby's office and on July 8, 2003, in a Washington hotel. In those meetings, she said, they discussed Plame's identity.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. With NSA's warrantless wiretapping and data mining?

they wanted NO WITNESSES. And Libby knows (knew) just how intrusive our government has become.

[NNN0LHI]

2. I am sure they both have offices too

Something doesn't seem right here.

Don

[Robbien]

3. that was my first thought also

plus the non-verbal message was probably as important as the verbal one.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. as in, "Dude, get a hotel room!" I see. or rather, I'd rather not see.

[catmandu57]

4. Maybe they did more than talk?

The only reason I can think of.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. It doesn't necessarily

mean they got a room.

They could've met in a bar, a restaurat, a lounge.

In large cities, hotels are very common places to meet.

[endarkenment]

7. Nothing unusual in face-to-face interviews.

However the statement that "An attorney for Libby quickly challenged Miller's credibility, establishing that she had forgotten about one meeting before she found notes from that encounter in a shopping bag 2½ years later" is leaving out some details of Miller's sudden recovery from memory loss. I believe it was the virtual thumbscrews from Fitzpatrick's office that resulted in Miller remembering some crucial details about the destruction of Plame's career.

[Mist]

8. Right--she was in jail for 3 months, IIRC. nt

[Rosemary2205]

9. I doubt there's a hotel room near DC that's not bugged

either by the feds or by some crafty hotel personnel looking for a paycheck. I doubt it was any safer than phones.

[Avalux]

10. They were a bit more than just reporter and source -

at least that's the conclusion I've drawn. She spent 85 days in jail to protect his sorry ass and was reticent to disclose his identity even after he gave her permission to do so. Miller carried water for the neocons a long time; perhaps because Libby asked her. Right after her jailing, her 76 year old husband took off on a Mediterranean cruise. So much of the story is bizarre.

[originalpckelly]

11. Anyone willing to bet the hotel was the Watergate?

:shrug:

What the hell is it with that hotel anyway?

[Garbo 2004]

12. It was the St Regis hotel. Breakfast mtg in the dining room. n/t

[SoCalDem]

13. The whole thing stinks..big time.

I mean..really. Just HOW many times in one's lifetime would there be an "incident" involving a CIA operative..and whetere to "out" or not?

This is the type of stuff one would remember, in vivid detail. This "story" was a blockbuster..not a run of the mill story. Notes or no notes, it's not the kind of story easily "forgotten".

Deals were made with the devil. It backfired, and now there's hell to pay.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. You had to ask?

What else goes on in hotels? :evilgrin:

[screembloodymurder]

15. It's the sacrifice good Christians have to make.

Fuck your brains out for fundamentalism.

[screembloodymurder]

16. And under the Aspens too!

Sounds like Libby was on the bottom - looking up.

[lovuian]

17. Judith was a UNDERCOVER agent

whatcha think

[libnnc]

18. Well, my initial snarky response is of course...

Why, to engage in some hot lovin'...

sorry, that's all I got.

I'll go back to the lounge now...