Libby Trial for today - Firedoglake thread.

[Bunny]

Sorry if this is a dupe.

http://www.firedoglake.com

Libby Live: Woodward One
NOTES: (1) This is not a transcript — It's the blogger's approximation, and no one really knows what that is yet! But I do know you shouldn't quote anything not in quotation marks. (2) I'll timestamp the updates and will update about every 15 minutes, servers willing. The hamsters that run the servers will appreciate it if you don't refresh excessively in the meantime. (3) If you're not having enough fun just reading along the liveblog, consider buying my book on this case.


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To explain my point in the last thread about Fitz catching Libby in a lie…

WP testified that Libby was one of his sources for the claim that "an aide to VP Cheney" asked for more information, which eventually led to Wilson being sent. But in fact, Cheney was the one who asked for more information. So Libby lied to Pincus to distance Cheney from Wilson's trip.

Now onto Woodward. Anyone remember who broke the story of Watergate? You think the guy who broke that story would sit on his knowledge of a leak for over a year?!?!? Nahhhh!

One big question I have on Woodward is whether Fitz will be allowed to point out that Libby leaked to Woodward exactly what he said he had to get Presidential authorization to leak to Judy Judy Judy two weeks later–but that when he leaked it to Woodward, he had no idea whether it had been declassified or not.

Fitzgerald up, objecting to putting Cue Card into evidence, particularly since it has been redacted to include just Wilson's name.

Jeffress: This is the document as it was redacted by Woodward to Fitzgerald to us.

Walton: That's all they were provided.

Fitz: That's all we were provided.

Walton: I think you can bring out that there was a lot of other information on it.

Waiting for the jury.

Jeffress up calls Woodward.

Woodward: Aqua tie. I do, loudly,

J: What do you do for a living.

BW: Assistant MG Editor for WaPo, and a book author.

BW Starting with Watergate most about Presidents or CIA or SCOTUS.

J Recipient of any Pulitzers?

BW Shared in two

J June 2003, what were you working on

BW: Plan of Attack.

J How many sources

BW: Several hundred and 75 primary sources

J Was one Libby? When did you speak to Libby?

BW Lots of times?

J June 17 2003? How did that interview get arranged?

BW June 2 , I was trying to interview VP Cheney, it looked like it had been arranged. 4 days before the June 27 interview, on June 23, I sent 16 pages of questions to Libby.

11:22

Libby Live: Walter Pincus One
NOTES: (1) This is not a transcript — It's the blogger's approximation, and no one really knows what that is yet! But I do know you shouldn't quote anything not in quotation marks. (2) I'll timestamp the updates and will update about every 15 minutes, servers willing. The hamsters that run the servers will appreciate it if you don't refresh excessively in the meantime. (3) If you're not having enough fun just reading along the liveblog, consider buying my book on this case.


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Jeffress up .

J Good morning Mr. Pincus, What do you do for a living.

WP I write for the WaPo, I've been a journalist for roughly 50 years. I cover National Security and Intell.

J Did you have experience in intelligence field.

WP I served for two years in Coutnerintelligence 1955-57.

J What's a Pulitzer Prize

WP "One of the many prizes you're given for journalism." I was part of a team that won a prize.

J For reporting on OBL. Stuart Alsop Aware

WP Given for the best intell reporting I won the original one in 2000

J How many security articles

WP Probably 1000.

J Asks about anonymous sources, has him list where they come from. How often do they talk to you and not be attribtued. Do you honor those requests.

WP Yes, part bc I'm interested in facts, part bc you wouldn't get that info otherwise.

J I'm going to be asking you about conversations with two Admin officials. Is it fair to say that ordinarily you would not wish to testify.

WP Yes

J You testified on 9/15/2004 concerning conversations with Libby. Why did you do that?

WP Through my lawyers I learned Libby granted a waiver for that conversation.

J Going through Libby's waiver, using this as a way to introduce Libby's willingness to let journalists testify.

Libby Live: Mystery Witness
NOTES: (1) This is not a transcript — It's the blogger's approximation, and no one really knows what that is yet! But I do know you shouldn't quote anything not in quotation marks. (2) I'll timestamp the updates and will update about every 15 minutes, servers willing. The hamsters that run the servers will appreciate it if you don't refresh excessively in the meantime. (3) If you're not having enough fun just reading along the liveblog, consider buying my book on this case.


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Good morning Firedoglake. I've had a bracing week away from the liveblog, shivering through Michigan's 25 below windchills all last week. Thanks to Swopa for doing such a great job with the liveblogging so I could go home and freeze.
I'm using this leftover question mark from Fitzgerald's unused mystery witness because … well, we have no idea what Libby is going to throw at us this morning. I've heard verying reports as to the first witness, including Cheney, Novak, Woodward, Sanger, Mitchell, Even Thomas, or Pincus (so I spent about 2 hours loading slugs up to ancitipate any possible witness; if I had to guess, it'll be some of the journalists). My best guess? We're going to spend the morning arguing motions and I'll have plenty of notice as to who is up first.

Walton up (jury not here) to deal with motions. We're going to start with the motion to quash Andrea Mitchell's subpoena.

Wells: We wish to call Ms. Mitchell, and elicit testimony at a minimum that would show how intensely she was working on the Wilson story. When this story started, Russert was on vacation. Gregory is on the record as knowing Plame's identity. We have the right to show how intensely NBC was covering this story from which one can infer that she learned Plame's identity. "We think this case presents a different factual model" than any of the cases the government has cited.

Walton: But you want this to go to the truth.

Wells: No, what I want, to the extent that I have a wish list, my extreme wish is that your honor would treat it as residual evidence. But I have also said that if it is not treated as substantive evidence, it still should come in as impeachment evidence with a limiting instruction.

Walton: Impeaching her on what?

Wells: Impeaching her on her testimony that she can rule out that Plame worked at the CIA.

Walton: Assuming you can ask that, then what are you planning on doing with that, just argue it for that purpose? You're not going to seek to do the other, which is to suggest that she would have had conversations with Russert about it?

Wells: I could not do that if your honor limits it. I've made it clear that I have a more extreme argument that you treat it as residual evidence.

Walton: You've said a lot more in Chambers.



Wells: I have every right to use it for impeachment. I want to start at that beginning, which makes it very unique from Johnson.

Walton: I don't buy the argument that it can be used for substantive purposes. But I'd like to hear what govt says about impeachment.

Bonamici: The question to be asked is what purpose would be served by impeaching their witness? Defense intends to ask about an unrelated subject–what Libby said to Mitchell, we presume that Defense would want her to be credible. This is a ruse to present the non-admissible testimony. They've got no reason to impeach, they're setting up a straw man so they can impeach.

[Bunny]

1. Pincus Reveals Fleischer as Leak Source

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070212/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial

<snip>
WASHINGTON - Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer leaked the identity of a CIA operative to Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus during a 2003 phone call, Pincus testified Monday as the first defense witness in the CIA leak trial.

Pincus was one of the first reporters to learn the identity of Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and prominent Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson. Pincus said he learned her identity July 12, 2003 but did not immediately write about it. Plame was outed by syndicated columnist Robert Novak two days later.

Pincus testified on behalf of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby is accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the leak of Plame's identity.

Pincus, a veteran national security reporter, said he was talking to Fleischer for a story about weapons of mass destruction. He said Fleischer "suddenly swerved off" topic and asked why Pincus continued to write about Wilson.<snip>

Scooter, this isn't going to do much to prove that you didn't lie under oath, and obstruct justice.

[flyarm]

2. I HAVE A QUESTION...

WHY IS THE DEFENCE WANTING TO IMPEACH Mitchell??

or is it Mitchell they are attempting to impeach??

and What is it they are trying to impeach..does anyone know??

thanks so much..fly

[Bunny]

4. I wish some of our learned Plameologists would come in and

give us their commentary. I'm just cutting and pasting, basically.

[malaise]

5. I am convinced that Mitchell learnt the name

at the Ford birthday party.

[Bunny]

3. Another update here:

http://www.firedoglake.com/

Libby Live: David Sanger
NOTES: (1) This is not a transcript — It's the blogger's approximation, and no one really knows what that is yet! But I do know you shouldn't quote anything not in quotation marks. (2) I'll timestamp the updates and will update about every 15 minutes, servers willing. The hamsters that run the servers will appreciate it if you don't refresh excessively in the meantime. (3) If you're not having enough fun just reading along the liveblog, consider buying my book on this case.


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Jeffress: Spell your name, What do you do for a living.

DS Chief Washington correspondant for Times. For 20 years, just a few monts as Wash Correspondant, before that WH correspondant.

J June 2003,

DS I was one of the WH correspondants.

J Have you written on nonproliferation?

DS extensively.

J Have you received a Pulitzer? And topics.

DS Two teams. Space Shuttle Challenger. Exports to China

J Part of your job to gather info from WH? Goes through agencies, background, deep background, OTR. They're common terms? Do you accept info from Admin officials on background? Off the record?

DS As rarely as possible.

J Why do you do that?

DS People will only speek off the record. The only way to obtain important info that we feel is needed to explain situation. We prefer it to be on the record.

J Late June, July 2003, story on intell. co-authors?

DS James Risen, Tom Shakar, Don Van Natta,

J Article dated July 20, is that the article you were working on?

J Was Scooter Libby one of the people you interviewed? Among how many?

DS Well more than a dozen, perhaps 2 dozen.

J Date of interview

DS Early July 2003.

[ralps]

6. *** New Thread at Firedoglake.com- Libby Live: Novak One

Libby Live: Novak One
By: emptywheel
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/12/libby-live-novak-one/

Well,I guess Libby's team thought we'd be tired after lunch. Or perhaps they want us to lose our lunch. Becuase we're getting Novak.

Novak sitting there looking shiftily from right to left, kind of sitting back in the seat. He's got a three piece suit (like the one in the picture, but a yellow tie or some such thing. And he's wearing glasses. Maybe he noticed earlier that losing one's glasses is a good way to stall for time?!?!

Fitzgerald and Wells chatting about something–bench conference on something relating to Novak.

Libby is very animated right now, laughing with Jeffress. Whatever he said, they're both cracking up.

Novak has one cup of water to the side and one in front of him. He looks more comfortable than Judy, but not all that much more. But maybe that's because he looks shifty by his very nature? That took abotu 5 minutes or so. Jury now coming in.

I think Walton is getting tired–he's not as chatty as he was with the jury week before last.



RN: I'm a journalist, staffer for Sun Times, syndicated columnist, also a (clears throat) contributor for Fox, Bloomberg, editor in chief for Evans-Novak.

W: In 2003 who did you work for?

RN Sun Times, CNN. Exec producer for Capital game , been political commentator since 1963.

Wells: Work history.

RN: goes through military service, AP, Evans, since Evans retirement.

Now Novak is sitting up on edge of seat.

W: Week of July 7 2003.

RN: Change of counterterrorism aide, Ms. Townsend, and several small stories ran in item, working on Amb Joe Wilson's mission to Niger which he had written about.

W How did you come to be working on Wilson column

RN: Previous Sunday, alleged attempt by Iraq to buy yellowcake from Niger, he had written op-ed, he was on MTP, I happened to be on roundtable and came in contact with him, had been interested in story, became more interested in it, and whether Pres had ignored report in opting for invasion of Iraq.

Wells, introduces the column.

snip

[ralps]

7. *** New Thread at Firedoglake.com- Libby Live: Novak Two

Libby Live: Novak Two
By: emptywheel
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/12/libby-live-novak-two/

F Just to be clear, your story is not generally available for non-subscribers. AP distributes it to subscribers, who are embargoed, they print it on the date

F First meeting with Wilson

RN On MTP. The day of his op-ed.

F You did not become fast friends.

RN We did not exchange words. Most people in the green room quietly read. He was giving his opinion at some length about how things were done in the Clinton NSC, in a very loud voice, I thought that was an obnoxious performance.

F Did you share that experience with Rove that week.

RN I might have.

F Did you discuss 1999 trade delegation with Rove

RN Yes, that was related to Niger and uranium

F No specific recollection of talking about Wilson's wife.

RN I'm sorry.

F You have no specific recollection of talking about Joe Wilson's wife.

RN No

F But you did talk to him that week.

Redirect.

W: Fitz asked questions about column being sent on AP wire and being embargoed. To your understanding, reporters would be able to read the article.

RN I presume so.

W Some of your customers some of the largest newspapers. He starts listing them, Says Boston Globe

RN Boston Herald.

NO further questions.

Sidebar.

We're going to jurors questions.

Novak looks like he's comfortable that he's gotten through this. His is now doing his nose up in the air arrogant look. and rocking gently back and forth in the chair.

Still in sidebar

snip

[ralps]

8. *** New Thread at Firedoglake.com- Libby Live: A Gaggle of Journalists (and Others) One

Libby Live: A Gaggle of Journalists (and Others) One
By: emptywheel
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/12/libby-live-a-gaggle-of-journalists-one/

Walton: Tomorrow we'll have to break at 3:30. I've got a plea I need to make.

Glenn Kessler is up. I'll use GK for him.

David Corn says he went to high school with David Sanger and Brown U with Glenn Kessler. He voted against Sanger taking over the high school newspaper after he left.

New Defense lawyer. (I'll use D for him)

GK 9 years at WaPo, Diplomatic correspondant, travel around world with SOS, talk with anyone involved in foreign policy.

D Covered since you've been at post.

GK Almost five years.

D Have you won any awards.

GK laughs, Yes I have, twice part of groups that won Pulitzer. I've won awards.

D Direct attention to July 2003. What subjects.

GK What I cover now, US foreign policy.

D What were some of the issues.

GK a rather full range involving foreign policy. North Korean, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq.

D More specifically week of July 7, 2003. Did there come a time when you interviewed Libby.

GK Spoke to him on July 12, also July 18.



GK helping a colleague who asked me to bounce some things off of Scooter.

D Did you contact them

GK No I contacted them, I also sent an email. My colleague had 5 specific questions he wanted to raise. These were the things we're hearing. Cathie gave partial answers, said Scooter would follow up.

D How did he follow-up

snip

[Spazito]

9. Hmmm, this whole line of questioning/witnesses called by

the defense aren't addressing the charges at all. Libby was NOT charged with leaking Valerie Plame's name, he is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. It seems the Libby defense team is trying to do an end run around their failure to limit the trial to the leak to Novak by continuing to bring media witnesses to say Libby didn't leak to them.

I wonder when they will actually get around to addressing the charges, lol.