AP: Prosecution Rests in CIA Leak Case

[Eugene]

Associated Press
Prosecution Rests in CIA Leak Case
By MATT APUZZO 02.08.07, 3:34 PM ET

NBC's Tim Russert deflected criticism of his ethics and credibility as the prosecution
rested its case Thursday in the obstruction and perjury trial of former White House aide
I. Lewis "Scooter Libby.

The network journalist got the kind of interrogation he usually gives on his Sunday
television show "Meet the Press," as attorneys flashed excerpts of his previous
statements on a video monitor and asked him to explain inconsistencies.

Russert, who testified that he never discussed outed CIA operative Valerie Plame
with Libby, was the final witness called by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

A law school graduate, Russert avoided several traps that Libby attorney Theodore
Wells laid before him. He seemed uncomfortable at times, however, as Wells asked him
to explain why he willingly told an FBI agent about a July 2003 conversation with Libby,
then gave a sworn statement saying that he would not testify about that conversation
because it was confidential.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/08/ap3409760.html

[Hissyspit]

1. Editor and Publisher: "Libby Trial Resumes - Prosecution Rests!"

Libby Trial Resumes: Prosecution Rests!

By E&P Staff

Published: February 08, 2007 10:35 AM ET updated all day

NEW YORK The trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in the CIA leak case resumed this morning, and as in previous days, E&P updated developments throughout the day. The latest: The prosecution rested its case at mid-afternoon, after the defense was through with Tim Russert, and the jury retired for the day.

First out of the box this a.m. was a jury problem. Apparently their access to newspapers, or at least the news parts of them, are tightly restricted but one juror brought to the attention of a marshal that he or she had seen a photo of witness Tim Russert in The Washington Post along with the headline "Tim Russert on the Uncomfortable Side of a Question."

- snip -

Indeed, by 3:30, Fitzgerald announced, "The prosecution rests."

Still to come: Will The New York Times' Jill Abramson and David Sanger, and NBC's Andrea Mitchell be forced to the stand? And what about Cheney and Libby?

[brettdale]

2. How sad

I thought Fitzgerald was really going to dig deeper.

Bush*t and Cheney must have smiles so wide now.

[lancdem]

4. Really?

I thought the stuff that came out about Cheney in particular was pretty damning. :shrug:

[Annces]

3. The Terminator Rests

[Spazito]

5. The media is using misleading headlines, imo

It is not the CIA leak case, it is the Libby Obstruction/Perjury Case. There is not, as yet, a CIA leak case because Libby committed Obstruction of Justice and Perjury which interfered with the CIA leak investigation. Given the way the media has so badly wanted the actual CIA leak case to disappear, I should not be surprised they have misstated the Libby case as they have done.