Libby resigned after learning he was indicted for a lesser charge. Interestingly, all fo the people who were hoping for more indictments in the WH were disappointed.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
don't think it's entirely over yet Cal. Listen very closely to the code the USA was talking in. He said THIS grand jury expired, but he could use another impaneled one if he needed too. Talked of impaneling another one also.
they'll put inordinate pressure on Libby to give up somone up the food chain. they'll try to uncover more evidence to pursue.
some of these guys are the legal equivalent of big game hunters. they're going for a trophy, and they will capably stalk their prey. i, unfortunately, know of what i speak.
Bushkie wants to get this behind him as fast as possible, dragging this out thru a trial is not good public relations. Scooter will plea bargin this down to a small fine and some probation time - no big deal. They won't get anyone else - it's over.
Boysda, I know what you're talking about. However, impaneling another grand jury also takes some of the heat off of Fitzgerald in that people will think he's then certainly had plenty of time to sift through all of the evidence and not stopped when it looked like he was going to find out the whole truth. From what I've read, I think he's completed his entire investigation and this is what he's found. No overt intent to violate the Intelligence Identities Protection Act but one white house counsel person foolish enough to play games with FBI agents and, coincidentally, the same person who started this whole mess to begin with. It wasn't quite what it's been hyped up to be BUT justice is being served and rightfully so. Libby shouldn't have acted so childish and foolish. There were other ways to deal with Wilson and that was the President's perogative to deal with Wilson or not as the President obviously chose.
If you compare what's happening in this case to the Clinton case, you get an even bigger picture idea about the code that is being used. Simply put, I don't think ANY special investigator truly wants to put a sitting (or past) U.S. President on trial. After reading much more on this case (including below and the indictment), it looks like Fitzgerald is teaching Libby a lesson that he deserves for wasting so much of Fitzgerald's and the grand jury's time. The original (and far more serious) investigation of a possible violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act appears to have been settled for now.
Without discussing details, Fitzgerald said he would not confirm that Plame was a covert officer at the time her identity was revealed nor was Libby or others being charged for violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act.
"We have not made any allegation that Mr. Libby knowingly or intentionally outed a covert agent. We have not charged that. And so I am not making that assertion," he said.
Fitzgerald did say that Valerie Plame's covert status was "blown" as a result of Libby's discussions. He added that "investigators do not set out to investigate the statute, they set out to gather the facts.
"It's critical that when an investigation is conducted by prosecutors, agents and a grand jury they learn who, what, when, where and why. And then they decide, based upon accurate facts, whether a crime has been committed, who has committed the crime, whether you can prove the crime and whether the crime should be charged," he said.
"In July 2003, the fact that Valerie Wilson was a CIA officer was classified. Not only was it classified, but it was not widely known outside the intelligence community. Valerie Wilson's friends, neighbors, college classmates had no idea she had another life," he added.
__________________
Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
but it is interesting that it wasn't the watergate break in that brought down nixon, it was that they lied about it.
it wasn't clinton's affair that got him in trouble, it was that he lied about it.
i think they'll offer libby a plea in exchange for a name. my guess is they'll go for rove.
david m:
Very true. Don't forget about Martha either. You can't lie to the feds. The system is supposed to be based on truth. If lying is accepted, no matter how big or small, the system is screwed. If Libby lied, then throw the book at him.
Libby Resigns
