I. Lewis Libby -- good riddance
 

"Like a fortress built on a sand dune."

<b>CIA probe 'not over' after Cheney's top aide indicted</b>

<i>Libby charged on 5 counts, confident he'll be 'totally exonerated'</i>

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The CIA leak investigation is "not over," special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said Friday after announcing charges against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.

Fitzgerald said he will be keeping the grand "jury open to consider other matters." But, he said, "substantial work" is done.

Libby resigned Friday after a federal grand jury indicted him on five charges related to the leak probe: one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements. (Charges explained)

Libby said in a written statement he is "confident that at the end of this process I will be completely and totally exonerated."

"Today is a sad day for me and my family," he said, adding that he was stepping aside "with regret."

"I have spent much of my career working on behalf of the American people," he said. "I have conducted my responsibilities honorably and truthfully."

President Bush on Friday called the ongoing legal proceedings "serious" and said he accepted the resignation of Libby, who by title was also an assistant to the president and a national security adviser to Cheney. (Watch Bush's reaction -- 1:08)

Speaking to reporters from the south lawn of the White House, the president said Libby has "sacrificed much in his service to this country," and he cautioned that "in our system each individual is presumed innocent and entitled to due process and a fair trial."

"While we're all saddened by today's news, we remain wholly focused on the many issues and opportunities facing this country," he said before leaving to spend the weekend at Camp David.

During an afternoon news conference, Fitzgerald said, "A CIA officer's name was blown and there was a leak and we needed to figure out how that happened, who did it, why, whether a crime was committed, whether we could prove it, whether we should prove it. Given national security was at stake, it was especially important that we find out accurate facts."

Libby was charged with lying to FBI agents and to the grand jury about conversations with reporters. (Read the full text of the indictment)

Libby testified that he heard CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity from Russert when, in fact, he learned of Plame's identify from other government officials, the indictment alleged.

"Mr. Libby's story that he was at the tail end of a chain of phone calls, passing on from one reporter what he heard from another, was not true," Fitzgerald said.

"He was at the beginning of the chain of phone calls -- the first official to disclose this information outside the government to a reporter -- and then he lied about it afterwards, under oath and repeatedly," he said.

Libby's attorney Joseph Tate said Fitzgerald concluded Libby did not violate a law that makes it a crime to intentionally disclose the identity of a covert agent. (Watch as news of Libby's resignation breaks -- :52)

Tate said in a written statement that his client is innocent, and he asked that the public not judge the case until a verdict is returned.

He said he and his client were "dismayed" and "surprised" at the charges, and accused Fitzgerald of turning "alleged inconsistencies in Mr. Libby's recollection and those of others" into charges.

Libby discussed Plame's identity in the summer of 2003 with reporters after her husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson, wrote a highly critical op-ed column in The New York Times that challenged intelligence used as part of the rationale for the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Descriptions of those conversations by reporters say Libby discussed Plame's identity, in part, to cast doubt in the reporters' minds about Wilson's account and criticized the CIA, the indictment alleged.

"These are very serious charges," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. "They suggest a senior White House aide put politics ahead of our national security and the rule of law."

These are so far the only indictments in a nearly two-year investigation. If convicted on all counts, Libby could face a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine, Fitzgerald's news release said.

Cheney said in a statement that he accepted Libby's resignation "with deep regret."

"Scooter Libby is one of the most capable and talented individuals I have ever known," the statement said.

Meanwhile, President Bush's top political strategist, Karl Rove, was not indicted Friday by the federal grand jury. But, the sources said, Rove is not out of legal jeopardy as the matter is still under investigation. (Full story)

Lawyers involved in the case have told CNN that Fitzgerald has focused on whether Rove committed perjury. Rove testified four times in front of the grand jury.
'No decision'

Rove's attorney Robert Luskin issued a statement Friday that said Fitzgerald "has advised Mr. Rove that he has made no decision about whether or not to bring charges."

"Mr. Rove will continue to cooperate fully," Luskin's statement said. "We are confident that when the special counsel finishes his work, he will conclude that Mr. Rove has done nothing wrong."

As Rove departed his home in Washington Friday morning, he told reporters, "I am going to have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend and hope you do, too."

Rove and his attorney have previously issued denials related to the case.

Libby's indictment came at a time when Bush's approval ratings are at a low ebb.

The event that triggered the legal and political quagmire was a syndicated newspaper column by Robert Novak, published on July 14, 2003, about Joe Wilson.

Before Novak's column, Valerie Plame's role as a CIA officer was "not widely known" outside the intelligence community, Fitzgerald said at the news conference. The information was "classified," he said.

In a written statement, Wilson on Friday called the indictments an "important step in the criminal justice process."

"It is certainly not a day to celebrate," Wilson said, adding that the indictment marked "a sad day for America."

"I continue to believe that revealing my wife Valerie's secret CIA identity was very wrong and harmful to our nation, and I feel that my family was attacked for my speaking the truth about the events that led our country to war," Wilson said.

Wilson said that he and his wife "are confident that justice will be done."

CNN's Kelli Arena, Dana Bash, John King and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

Unless I am missing something, I agree...There is one thing I disdain more than lying Democrats, and that is lying Republicans.

The real scumbags here are Joe Wilson and his wife.

It is only an indictment. The man is pretty smart and will get his chance to defend himself now. So far it has only been one-sided.

"The real scumbags here are Joe Wilson and his wife"

Huh?

Whether the administration agreed with Wilson's findings or not, that is not the question.

Whether Plame did or did not instigate Wilson's trip to Nigeria is not the question.

The question is whether devulging the identify of a CIA agent (and thus identifying her previous contacts) is a national security issue and a violation of US law.

Mul. I'd say you're looking for scum in the wrong part of town. I'll even suggest the location in DC you'll probably find it.

Sherwood

Libby's indictment raises the spectre of a politically damaging criminal trial, which means that Cheney and other White House officials will be called as witnesses.

"It's only an indictment". That's like saying that the break-in at the Watergate hotel in '72 was only a burglary.

Actually, it's not even about that. It is about whether he lied to an investigating official. It's a Martha Stewart moment. SmileWavy

How 'bout...."it's only a flesh wound"?

or......."that'll buff right out"..........

At least it's not oral sex.

Can you please define 'sex'

and that would be everywhere?

This is all a Bush scam to keep the Dem's busy while he pushes his agenda.

Kinda makes oral sex look good.

Does it ever look bad?

Actually, it did once.

On the front of a blue dress.

sometimes you don't even need sun glasses.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1130606515.jpg

It's kindof interesting that a crime wasn't even committed, according to Fitzgerals, untill there was an investigation. Using this as precedent, we need to set up investigations into Chappaquiddick and certain relationships within moveon.org and the DNC. Even if they haven't committed a crime yet, surely we can trip them up if we can get them to testify numerous times for many many hours. Just one trip, all we need, right?

it seems the indictment is based on the contradiction between Libby's testimony and the testimony of 3 reporters. Fitz wouldn't answer on whether he had evidence beyond that. Fitz also didn't offer a motive, evidence of a conspiracy, or evidence of a cover up. It is an allegation that Libby lied about a crime that wasn't committed.

maybe "This is all a Bush scam to keep the Dem's busy while he pushes his agenda."

It's difficult to prove they (Libby, Cheney, Rove, etc.) knew Plame was indeed a covert agent. Thus far, it's been easier to show that Libby (so far) lied under oath and thus obstructed the investigation. Novak was at least astute enough to come clean (assuming he's telling the truth) when Fitzgerald asked the question. Miller's freedom-of-the-press plea to not reveal her source (and spent jail time for it) looks a little hollow since she now claims she doesn't remember who her source was (prison accommodations must have been that good). It sounds like she's now trying to invoke the R. Reagan line of defense.

The fallout reminds me of similarities with Watergate and similar govt. transgressions, maybe worst than WG since it may involve national security and the outing of our agents and contacts here and abroad.

Isn't there a constitutional loophole where the Supreme Court can announce a time out and start over with a new administration?

Sherwood

Perhaps you're mixing this case up with some suspense novel you read?

... maybe worst than WG since it may involve national security and the outing of our agents and contacts here and abroad...

If she wasn't covert and there was no outing, then how can it be worst[sic] and involve national security?? We have a right to know if there were shenanegans that lead up to Wilson being sent to Niger. If that type of crap is going on, then it indeed does involve national security.

"Perhaps you're mixing this case up with some suspense novel you read?"

No. I don't read them, just non-fiction.

"If she wasn't covert and there was no outing, then how can it be worst[sic] and involve national security?? We have a right to know if there were shenanegans that lead up to Wilson being sent to Niger. If that type of crap is going on, then it indeed does involve national security."[/b]

You're correct. My apologies. If she wasn't covert, and they knew she wasn't, no harm, no foul.

What does it matter if there were "shenanigans" (political overtones) leading up to Wilson's trip? In the end, the veracity of this situation would be if his report was factual or not, followed by the actions of the administration to exact revenge by revealing his wife's name to the press. However, lying to or obstructing a grand jury investigation is quite serious if one believes in a system of checks and balances. If there was no harm or no intent to harm, why concoct a story?

From reported accounts, the administration was relying on non-substantiated, shady evidence about Nigerian ore sales in the first place. This is hardly something a responsible POTUS and WH staff inserts into a state-of-the-union address unless one were pressing the case/creating false reasons to invade a country. Moreover, it also shows a troubling lack of foresight into the ramifications of starting and finishing a war. Not enough history classes at Yale, placing patriotism on the back burner to loyalty, just not paying attention or listening to an inner voice. Pick one or more of the above.

Me? I'll sit and wait and see what happens next. After all, Libby and future indictees are presumed sorta innocent until pronounced guiltly. I imagine multiple movie scripts being created right now. Unfortunately, our pre-production costs for this movie include $200 billion, 2000 lives and many more thousands wounded and crippled thus far.

Sherwood

How <b>Bob Barr</b> (former Republican congressman) views Libby's indictment:

In the late 1980s, while I was serving as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, my office conducted an investigation into allegations that a then-sitting Republican Member of Congress from Georgia had engaged in a conspiracy to launder money and had obstructed justice and committed perjury. After lengthy and in-depth consideration within our office in Atlanta and with top officials at Main Justice in Washington, D.C., it was decided to seek an indictment against the Congressman on obstruction and perjury. Despite severe pressure from Republican political leaders in Georgia and elsewhere, and in the face of relentless public pressure to close the case out, we proceeded -- but only after taking the time to make certain every stone was overturned and examined; and only after we became convinced not just that the crimes to be charged had been committed, but also that we could convince a doubting jury of their having been committed beyond a reasonable doubt. I assigned the case to the very best prosecutor in my office.

Why did we go to such extraordinary and time-consuming lengths before laying the case before a grand jury? Because proving perjury and obstruction counts are among the most difficult charges to successfully prosecute. They are also among the most important; going, as they do, to the very heart of whether or not our entire judicial system will function in the first instance. In the case of that Congressman, our preparation paid off; he was convicted.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is doing the same thing in the still-ongoing investigation of the CIA/Valerie Plame leak investigation. He, too, knows the difficulties inherent in prosecuting obstruction and perjury; he also is keenly aware of the importance to the fundamental credibility of our entire justice system if such offenses go unpunished. Wisely, he has resisted pressure to “wrap things up” quickly; but instead has carefully and methodically interviewed (and re-interviewed) witnesses, and assembled an impressive array of evidence against the first indictee: Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Reviewing the indictment against Mr. Libby (and unlike, for example, the indictment pending against Tom DeLay in Texas), it is clear to me Mr. Fitzgerald has done an exemplary job. If I were Mr. Libby -- while I certainly would publicly express confidence in my eventual and full exoneration -- in private, I would be deeply concerned. The charges and supporting detail in the indictment are sound and far from frivolous.

The political fallout to the Bush Administration and to the Republican majority in the Congress of this single indictment will be measurable but probably not lethal. However, if further indictments are forthcoming, whether of political advisors in the White House or of operatives in the National Security Council, the damage will be considerably more serious. More important, the damage to our already battered intelligence community, and its ability to recover any degree of credibility vis-à-vis our allies as well as our adversaries, will be profound and long-lasting.

Demo or Rep. I get a certain amount of pleasure watching them (high level politicians) deliberately inserting their private parts in a wringer and then acting surprised when it starts turning.

I agree Hugh, we need a massive political enema, washing out the liars and crooks...That said:


- Number of times Hillary Clinton said "I don't recall" or its equivalent in a statement to a House investigating committee: 50 - Number of paragraphs in this statement: 42

- Number of times Bill Clinton said "I don't recall" or its equivalent in the released portions of the his testimony on Paula Jones: 271

- Total number of facts or events not recalled before official bodies by Bill Kennedy, Harold Ickes, Ricki Seidman, Bruce Lindsey, Bill Burton, Mark Gearan, Mack McLarty, Neil Eggleston, John Podesta, Jennifer O'Connor, Dwight Holton, Patsy Thomasson, Jeff Eller, Beth Nolan, Cliff Sloan, Bernard Nussbaum, George Stephanopoulous, Roy Neel, Rahm Emanuel, Maggie Williams, David Tarbell, Susan Thomases, Webster Hubbell, Roger Altman, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton: 6,125

- Average occurrence of memory lapse by top administration figures while before official bodies: 235

I couldn't reply until now...I was too busy doing the "Snoopy Dance."

Dan