NBC' Russert contradicts Libby under oath

[usregimechange]

Russert says he didn't give Libby agent's ID
POSTED: 3:31 p.m. EST, February 7, 2007

Story Highlights
• NEW: In taped testimony, Libby says Cheney gave him agent's name
• NEW: NBC's Tim Russert says he didn't give CIA agent's name to Libby
• Prosecution: Russert did not get any leniency in exchange for deposition to FBI
• Defense has requested to get details from that deposition

From Paul Courson
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- NBC's Tim Russert, the last prosecution witness in Lewis "Scooter" Libby's perjury trial, testified Wednesday he did not inform Libby of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity, as Libby has claimed.

Libby, the former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, told FBI investigators and a grand jury he first learned Wilson's identity from Russert during a conversation on July 10, 2003. He later recanted, saying a note he found had jogged his memory, and that he initially heard the name from Cheney about a month before.

Russert was asked by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald whether the two discussed Wilson. "No, that would be impossible because I did not know who that person was until several days later," Russert said.

Asked whether Libby told him about Wilson, Russert responded, "No."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/07/cia.leak/index.html

[babylonsister]

1. Uh-oh. Who are you going to believe? That must be Libby's point. nt

[rocktivity]

31. Well, what makes more sense?

1) Libby told Tim, but he decided against running the story

2) Tim told Libby, who then called the other reporters to confirm

In short, I think they're BOTH lying.

:dilemma:
rocknation

[Tin Man]

34. Uhhh... Cheney told Libby?

[rocktivity]

35. I thought THAT went WITHOUT saying, LOL!

Cheney told Libby BECAUSE he wanted Libby to tell everybody else!

:rofl:
rocknation

[blm]

2. Shows what a PIECE OF CRAP NEWSMAN Russert is - I knew about Wilson back in 1990, how could

"Mr. Influential Newsman" not have known who he is - especially living in DC all these years?

[emulatorloo]

4. Russert is referring to Plame there -- it is bad CNN writing . . .

from firedog lake live blog:


F: At any time did you discuss the wife of Joseph Wilson?

T: No, because I didn't know who she was until several days later

ON EDIT -- link: http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/07/libby-live-tim-russert-one/#more-7079

[blm]

7. Oh, ok - but Plame as CIA or Plame as Wilson's wife?

Hard to believe Russert was so sheltered in DC that he didn't know Wilson and Plame. Russert and his wife aren't exactly reclusive, and Wilsons were pretty social as part of their routine.

[emulatorloo]

14. sounds like Plame as CIA -- more from the live blogging

{disclaimer -- firedoglake keeps saying, not a transcript, but a paraphrase]

F: Did he call you often?

T: No.

F: How could you tell he was upset? What did he say?

T: "What the hell is going on with Hardball?" "I'm tired of hearing my name on the air all the time." "What he's saying isn't true."

F: What did you tell him?

T: I said it wasn't my responsibility, so I gave him names (list them)

F: At any time did you discuss the wife of Joseph Wilson?

T: No, because I didn't know who she was until several days later

F: Did Libby ever tell you?

T: No.

F: What would you have done?

T: Gotten more information from him and then discussed with my producers, would have been a significant story

F: Did he say off the record?

T: My personal policy is always off the record when talking to government officials unless specified. So I didn't go on air and talk about it, but I told Neal Shapiro and told him I'd

F: Remember when you heard claims about Ms. Wilson?

T: Read Novak column in WaPo on Monday, July 14 in afternoon. I said, "Wow, this is significant." Went to work and asked people we were working with what they knew.

F: Did anyone say they knew?

Just the opposite.

F: Did you receive a subpoena about this later?

T: Yes. We fought it. (spiel about rights of press)

F: What happened when Judge Hogan ruled otherwise?

T: I testified.

F: Where?

T: In NBC lawyers' office.

F: Under oath?

T: Yes.

F: No further questions.

[Straight Shooter]

17. "... discussed with my producers, would have been a significant story."

F: At any time did you discuss the wife of Joseph Wilson?

T: No, because I didn't know who she was until several days later

F: Did Libby ever tell you?

T: No.

F: What would you have done?

T: Gotten more information from him and then discussed with my producers, would have been a significant story

==========

At which point they would have checked with Cheney, whereupon they would receive their marching orders and they would agree to kill any mention of Plame vis-a-vis Libby or anyone in the White House.

Puppets.

[napi21]

5. What do you mean? Russert testified that he DIDN'T know about

Valerie or her job. Wells is being a real AH in questioning Russert, but it looks to me like Tim is doing just fine. He's not getting ruffled as most would, but I would expect that from someone who is in his position. Also sticking towhat he testified to when questioned by the FBI & the GJ.

[Frank Cannon]

6. Russert is a talking pumpkin head

His entire act is faxed to him from the White House, the General Electric Corporate Communications Department, and RNC headquarters.

As far as "reporting skills" go, Russert couldn't report on the week's lunch menu in a junior-high-school newspaper.

[emulatorloo]

8. weird, because Russert sure ain't backing up Scooter . . .

Russert's testimony pretty much nails Libby for the liar that he is

[blm]

13. He has nowhere else to go with it. Remember, Russert is a CLOSE FRIEND with Matalin and

Carville, too.

[emulatorloo]

15. I thought the proper spellling was "Car-Vile"

At least it seems like that more and more each day.

[goclark]

18. Perfect Name for him - Pumpkin Head! nt

The CONS carve him up anyway they want to and he dances to their music.

So did he hurt Libby or not?

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. If I were to animate a pumpkin head, Russert's face would definitely

come to mind.

[brentspeak]

23. What did you know about Wilson back in 1990? Which Wilson are you referring to?

[blm]

24. Joe Wilson was already famous to newswatchers back then as the guy who went to Baghdad

to confront Saddam for the Bush1 White House.

[Robbien]

3. The news echo chamber is completely ignoring this

All morning long the court played tapes that had Libby saying over and over Russert was the first one who told me about Plame.

First off this afternoon Russsert is saying, heck I didn't even know anything about Plame until days later.

Corporate media is talking about Pelosi demanding a big plane. Or the pundits are wasting time talking about a crazy nasa lady.

[emulatorloo]

10. The only TV coverage I've seen is on "Hardball" and "Countdown"

Then again, those are the only TV news shows I'm watching, because I knew they would both have David Schuster covering it.

Apparently the press room at the trial is packed -- I guess it is just print people.

ON EDIT -- I just read CNN will be playing excerpts of Libby Grand Jury testimony tapes tonight. sorry no link blog comments

[blm]

12. The corpmedia has been doing this to us for at least ten years now.

if we had a real media, Clinton would never have been impeached and Bush2 would never have been put into office in the first place.

This corpmedia helped to make sure 9-11 happened with their COLLECTIVE REFUSAL to discuss the Hart Rudman Report on Global Terror that was distributed to the WH, Congress AND the NEWSMEDIA on Jan 30, 2001.

[rocktivity]

16. And the only reason why she's called "a crazy NASA lady"

is BECAUSE she works for NASA. If she worked for a 7-11, she'd be called "a common criminal."

:headbang:
rocknation

[InkAddict]

21. Political games take a human toll

Seems evil lurks around that agency. At least she didn't drown her kids in the bathtub.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

33. On the "CBS Evening News," where Russert's former colleague Katie Couric is the anchor,

the story lasted two minutes, 15 seconds. One hitch, though: it was one minute, 34 seconds into the report before Russert's name was even mentioned.

Couric had framed the report as one updating viewers on the entire trial, and telegraphed disinterest.

"National political reporter Gloria Borger brings us up to date on the trial that has Washington insiders riveted and the rest of us scratching our heads," she said.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TV_TIM_RUSSERT?SITE=MDHAG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Skink]

9. If Russert had known who would have told Russert. Cheney?

[tanyev]

11. Russert/Cheney, Cheney/Russert--Scooter always gets those two guys mixed up.

[goclark]

19. That's because Pumpkin Head is Cheney's puppet nt

[brentspeak]

22. Scooter might be having second thoughts about being Rove & Cheney's fall guy, about now

[Diane R]

25. Nope. Being their 'fall guy' is his insurance to get that Pardon from Bush.

[olddad56]

26. I think you are right....

I was listening to a guy on Air America radio today saying the same thing. Libby would get convicted, go through an extensive appeal process and then when W was leaving office, he would be pardoned. Libby's not taking the stand assures that this is whay will come down.

[usregimechange]

29. Yes, may have lost some loyality when they scapegoated him

[Doctor_J]

27. Dueling liars and Rove sycophants

:yawn:

[classysassy]

28. Libby

fall on the sword,shrub will pardon you and fill your pockets with stolen,bloody money.

[TankLV]

30. Whom to believe - whom to believe...

It's such a hard decision choosing the lesser of two equal scum...

[radfringe]

32. LIBBY TRIAL SO FAR - A daily synopsis

LIBBY TRIAL SO FAR
A daily synopsis of the I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby perjury and obstruction trial.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17029067/page/2/

about 1/2-way down the page - interactive box.
synopsis goes back to 1/28/03: President Bush asserts in his State of the Union address

"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."