Did Libby's Defense Inadvertently Leak the Deleted Emails Info? --->>>

[Stephanie]

What's this? Did Libby's team blow it for Cheney? :rofl:

Fitzgerald Hints White House Records Lost

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Lawyers for defendant I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby this week accused prosecutors of withholding evidence the Libby camp says it needs to mount a defense.

"We are aware of no evidence pertinent to the charges against defendant Libby which has been destroyed," Fitzgerald wrote in a letter to the defense team.

But the prosecutor added: "In an abundance of caution, we advise you that we have learned that not all e-mail of the Office of Vice President and the Executive Office of the President for certain time periods in 2003 was preserved through the normal archiving process on the White House computer system." His letter was an exhibit attached to Libby's demand for more information from the prosecution.

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The Presidential Records Act, passed by Congress in 1978, made it clear that records generated in the conduct of official duties did not belong to the president or vice president, but were the property of the government.

The National Archives takes custody of the records when the president leaves office.

"Bottom line: Accidents happen and there could be a benign explanation, but this is highly irregular and invites suspicion," said Steve Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists government secrecy project.

"A particular subset of records sought in a controversial prosecution have gone missing," Aftergood said. "I think what is needed is for the national archivist to ascertain what went wrong and how to ensure it won't happen again."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060202/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak_1

[havocmom]

1. Hmmmm, maybe Scooter is connected at the root

and turning? ;)

[spanone]

2. Here's the deal as I see it.

Libby calls on White House papers to defend himself. White House screams National Security, can't release papers. Libby tells judge can't defend self without White House papers, judge throws Libby case out.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. So they're not helping Libby at all

He's on his own and who knows what he'll do now!

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Ha! Are you all getting the feeling that I am?

That Libby didn't know this information was being withheld from Fitzgerald by the White House and with his request, Libby just let the cat out of the bag? And by "leaking" this interaction, Fitzgerald just let the Cheney group know that he knows that they know that there are e-mails that were deleted because Libby insists they exist?

I'm just taking a stab here.

[Lochloosa]

5. Bingo!

[librechik]

10. tell Libby to look under the bus!

I'm pretty sure Cheney threw the emails under there.

[BR_Parkway]

4. Did Rove's claim to find that email at the last minute leak the info

to Fitz that there were emails that hadn't been disclosed?

[H2O Man]

6. Correct.

Always use the Watergate model. Libby's defense attorneys are not representing Cheney's interests. Cracks are beginning to widen in the Vice President's fortress. Tighten your seat belt, Dick, your ride is about to begin.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. How fun!

I've got my popcorn ready. :popcorn:

[Stephanie]

12. So you think they deliberately leaked it?

It looks like these were internal communications between the two teams in pre-trial discovery. Fitz did not leak this info about the deleted emails, but Libby's team attaches it to a pleading and voila, it's front page news. So what's next? Obstruction charges for Cheney?

[H2O Man]

14. 11 months sounds like

a long time before the trial to many people. It doesn't sound as long for little "Scooter." 11 years in a federal prison sounds long to him. It would be an error to underestimate the combination of the pressure Scooter is feeling, combined with his attorneys' trying to advocate that he look outside for himself rather than for Dick Cheney. More, keep in mind that Karl has been offered a deal, and though he has not accepted it yet, it involves providing information about old Dick Cheney's role.

[Stephanie]

15. I did not know that!

When did we learn that about Rove?

[Punkingal]

9. This is a setup for the SOTUS to throw out the case....

Because Libby can't defend himself.

[H2O Man]

13. I respectfully disagree.

There is zero chance of that happening. Libby's defense team is doing what defense teams always do when they are not able to fight the charges against their guilty-as-hell client. Their tactics at this point are aimed as much at putting pressure on the White House as they are for laying any foundation for an appeal of the inevitable convictions. They are also creating time to deal with Fitzgerald outside of the courtroom. Things are good.

[Punkingal]

16. Well, good....

I like your take on it much better than mine. :hug:

[JDPriestly]

11. Someone will have to explain.

Remember Sandy Berger? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Berger