Libby trial ends with abbreviated defense... closing arguments set for nextTuesday

[Duppers]

Libby trial ends with abbreviated defense

No Cheney, Libby testimony; closing arguments set for next Tuesday

Updated: 7:36 a.m. ET Feb 15, 2007

WASHINGTON - The testimony phase of the long-anticipated trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby ended with a whimper rather than the bang of testimony from high-profile defense witnesses like Vice President Dick Cheney and Libby himself.

Libby's attorneys rested a trimmed down defense Wednesday after the judge barred much of their classified evidence because Libby decided not to testify in his perjury trial.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald wrapped up the government's rebuttal in minutes.

That clears the way for the jury to hear closing arguments next Tuesday over whether the former chief of staff to Cheney lied to the FBI and a grand jury about whether he leaked to reporters in 2003 that Valerie Plame, the wife of prominent Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson, worked for the CIA.

Trial showed Cheney-Wilson connection
In 14 days of testimony, the trial never filled an overflow courtroom, with a video hookup, to handle the crowds expected - particularly for the cross-examination of Libby and Cheney.

more...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17165675/

EDITED DUE TO COPYRIGHT

[Ilsa]

1. Yeah, it's hard to defend and explain away treason. nt

[The Wizard]

2. At yesterday's press conference

Bush all but admitted the fix was in and Scooter would get a pardon. With a protracted appeals process, Libby will never serve a minute. It's just another white wash.
Let's hope the Wilson's drag all of them into a civil suit and bleed them dry.

[Duppers]

7. Joe Wilson should bleed 'em dry, yes!

Good point, Wizard.

But dang it, he can't land 'em in jail where they belong....and will the press cover any of that trial? They've given this one so little air time.

[Ganja Ninja]

11. I doubt you'll even see an appeal.

The Bush's want this to die and go away as fast as possible.

[TheMadMonk]

22. Properly spun on the Floor and in the Senate, a pardon works to our advantage.

Bush is on record as saying that any leaker would be properly and harshly dealt with. That Scooter was instead allowed to resign when his position became totally untenable "out of respect for his long and loyal service" is unpalatable, but can be swallowed, (even if it does make us feel a bit on the "gulpy" side). An outright pardon, on top of that original rhetoric, would(could) invite a blizzard of "Please explain"s.

[unpossibles]

3. hm. No Cheney or Libby on the stand?

I guess that whole "Tell The Truth" Oath would hinder their position.

[Loge23]

4. Outrageous - nothing will happen

I deliberately didn't get my hopes up for anything positive coming out of this after the Fitzmas that wasn't. But I can't help but feel total outrage for the apparent outcome anyway.
I think it's fairly clear that Libby will be convicted, but who cares? He's a lock for a pardon anyway. They might as well just acquit him and let this sham end already.
This seals the deal for the worst administration in our history, IMO.
They CAN do anything they want. They WILL do anything they want.
There is no oversight, no chance of prosecution.
Off we go to Iran.
Next!?

[Duppers]

6. well put

I share your despair, Loge.

At the beginning my hopes were foolishly up...high up. Mr. duppers kept telling me I was going to be disappointed.

Despair only for now---remember the Wilsons are going to have their go. But will the press give that trial any publicity?

[Demit]

8. It hasn't been a sham.

Libby's appeal process will likely take less than a year, say the people following this case closely. Also, it is unlikely that Bush will pardon him before the very second he leaves office in 2009. That leaves time for lil Irving to spend some time cooling his heels in jail. That is a positive.

The trial has shone a spotlight on the shabby practices of the press in how they kowtowed to this administration. All the Kool Kidz faces are very red, and there is an opportunity for other journalists not directly involved to tsk-tsk and be sanctimonious, thus keeping their actions in the spotlight. That is a positive.

The trial has raised questions that leave an opening for Congress to take it further via investigations. That is a positive.

Fitzgerald stayed within the four corners of his indictment and if the jury agrees that he proved his case—and the questions they submitted to the judge reveal they are grasping the elements of the case very well—he will have added to the public's growing understanding of just how this maladministration lied to and deceived it. Their jig is up. And the Republican party itself will be tarred with that mistrust for a generation. That is a positive.

Fitzgerald by all accounts is a dogged pursuer of the truth. There's still the matter of that sealed indictment he's holding onto, so who knows if this is truly over yet anyway. That's a positive.

I don't think your world-weary jadedness is at all warranted.

[Loge23]

13. The sun will come out tomorrow too

I strongly, and positively, hope and wish for all the scenarios that you put forth.
I'll believe it when I see it, but right now, I see nothing of the sort.

[HughMoran]

15. It's already happened!!

His scenarios are mostly all historical fact. Cynicism runs so deep as to obscure reality at times huh?

[Jacobin]

19. Hung jury, i'm thinking

because of some strange juror conduct in GD a couple of days back

But you are right. Pardon will take care of any conviction and it is utterly sickening

[AngryAmish]

5. It looks like wednesday is Fitzmas!

[Joffan]

9. Libby for the slammer

There's a lot of doom'n'gloom about how long the appeals process is going to take on this...

BUT - what's to appeal? There's nothing happened that could give any substanital grounds for appeal. This is almost a no-contest conviction, so I don't particularly see what is going to keep the Scooter out of the Big House.

I know, I know, the lawyers will materialize some appeal out of thin air, but judges can and have dismissed such arguments before now. I think - he's going DOWN.

[Virginian]

12. ...And Libby is just going to let them do this?

Isn't he married?
Doesn't he have a family at home?
Doesn't he have young children at home?

He is going to go to jail and not participate in their lives?
He is going to let his kids think of him as a criminal?

His loyalty to Cheney trumps his obligations to his family?
I think he really did think Cheney would testify in his behalf and once Cheney said he didn't want to, Libby didn't have anything else for his defense.

Is this the time when deals are made? Now that Libby knows that he is going down, will he start cooperating with Fitz for a Rove or Cheney trial in exchange for a lighter sentence?

[Ganja Ninja]

10. When you're guilty and you want to avoid further exposure ...

the best defense is no defense at all and a quick pardon.

I wonder what the status of the Wilson's civil suit is and how this will effect it?

[POAS]

14. abbreviated defense or

evaporated defense?

[LuckyLib]

16. Guilty, guilty, guilty. And so are his superiors. I won't hold my breath for any justice, however.

[Tellurian]

17. It would be manna from heaven if the jury...

comes down with a verdict of "guilty" and findings that further investigation
is necessary to asses the culpability of the Bush/Cheney's alliance of the public
disclose of a covert CiA agents identity.. for the purpose of retaliation against
revelations of the Truth reflecting badly on their maladministration.

[Diane R]

18. Libby looks way too happy and carefree....the pardon is done deal.

[Canuckistanian]

20. So all that fuss about the classified evidence was for nothing?

Quite an excellent time (and money) wasting move. Bravo, Team Libby.

Only one drawback. You certainly haven't impressed the judge as to your veracity or trustworthiness.

[Qutzupalotl]

21. Fitzgerald has more to do after this.

One defense witness, Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus, testified Fleischer leaked Plame's job to him, directly contradicting Fleischer's denial of that under oath.

A Fleischer indictment for perjury could be leverage for further stone-turning. Fleischer's immunity covers the initial leak, but is not a free pass to lie to the jury under oath.

Fitzgerald might have enough soon to build a case for conspiracy, or worse.

[Eagle_Eye]

23. The 'FIX' is in; Libby will walk

It is not that the republican administration is pulling strings to protect Libby, because he is expendable. The administration is protecting people like (the unelected) Vice President Richard B. Cheney from a lawsuit filed by Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson.