Squeezing Libby? For what?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Just brainstorming here, but what could Libby be squeezed for? I can't think of a good outcome on a squeeze:

1. That someone told him to lie to the Grand Jury?
Libby is indicted for lying. He could, however unlikely, cop a plea by saying Cheney or Rove told him to lie to the Grand Jury. Ordering someone to lie most certainly is a crime. But how could Libby prove he was told to lie?

2. That someone told him to spread Plame's name?
Libby was not indicted for disclosing her name. Fitz could not pin that on him because Libby did not admit he did it and therefore could not prove intent. Therefore, if Libby was sqeezed and said, "Ok, Cheney or Rove told me to spread her name," would intent be any clearer? Could the intentional outing crime stick then? And if you were Cheney or Rove, wouldn't your defense be that Libby is just making this up to get a shorter sentence. And SURELY there would be no documentation to prove it. It would be a "he said, he said."

3. That Libby knew Rove spread Plame to Cooper on purpose?
Once again, same problems as #2, "he said - he said," no documentation to prove it, and no clear proof of intent by Rove.


Unless the noted scribe Libby has some super double secret documents somewhere?

Another thing I don't get is what about all the other journalists? Who were they told by?

[JuniperLea]

1. #3 is the biggie for me

It shows how careful Fitz is being. He is only going for the sure shots. That being said, it's not over until the fat lady sings. He still has the right of discovery during the trial, right?

[HawkerHurricane]

3. Nope.

The defendant has the right of discovery. The prosecuter does not.

[HereSince1628]

5. Fitz can still bring additional charges against Libby.

[Oilwellian]

2. Here's the main question...

When Cheney knew Fitz had Scooter's notes naming him as the one who passed on Plame's identity, why didn't he come forward and correct it? Why did Cheney support Scooter's lies under oath? :D

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Do you mean just a week or two ago? When did Cheney know

he was named as Libby's source in the notes? Libby had testified long before, right? Please expand.

[Oilwellian]

6. Yes, Libby's notes

Cheney knew Libby committed perjury and yet said nothing. :D

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Well, that is assuming Libby told Cheney what he told the GJ

Were they allowed to discuss their testimonies among themselves? If yes, Cheney would have to admit that he asked Libby what Libby said to the GJ.

You are right. This is the big issue. We all know that there is NO way that the two of them didn't discuss their testimony. We also know that in all likelyhood, Fitz asked Cheney who he told. Cheney said "I told Libby" and the Libby notes backed Cheney up on this.

Why then, did Libby still lie? Because Cheney didn't tell Libby that he (Cheney) had outed him (Libby).

[Jim__]

7. My guess as to what Fitz could get from Libby

Cheney told Libby. But, Libby claims that Russert told him. Maybe Fitz doesn't have the details of that conversation. Libby could give that up; and that might implicate Cheney. As for it being he said, he said; Fitz might already have that - from Hannah or Wurmser (sp). Libby's version might be the final nail in Cheney's coffin.

Even if Fitz doesn't have another source; once Libby gives him details; Fitz can use those details to prod other people. Once he has a pretty good idea of what actually happened; he can try to back it up and use the info to trip up other people who are lying.

[LunaC]

9. In TV-land it goes like this.....

A crime has been committed. The perps have been identified and separated from one another. Each is told that The Other Guy is pointing the finger at THEM! (cue Sam Waterston saying "You better level with me or you're taking the Fall all by yourself...") Trickle, trickle, trickle.

The prosecutor goes back and forth, playing one perp against the other, and with each new tidbit of info they volunteer, the Big Picture starts to emerge with greater clarity until the crime is solved. Cue closing credits. Dissolve into commercial.

Fitz has effectively cornered the perps - Rove and Libby can't strategize with one another any more and it's every man for himself. Rove has taken the bait, is fishing for a plea bargain and is cooperating, hence no indictments for right now. Rove is playing the part of Big Pussy in the Soprano’s!

Libby, on the other hand, is playing hard-ass so he’s been treated to “the squeeze”….tell the truth or face hard jail time. While he professes his innocence and demands his day in court, a public trial is the Cabal’s worst nightmare…no one can risk having their dirty little secrets revealed under oath and WH hierarchy refusing to testify “on the grounds that it may incriminate me” will be damning testimony in and of itself.

Libby. Rock. Hard place. He wonders about the witness protection program but realizes his days are numbered. There is no good ending to this story for him. And Rove isn't entirely off the hook yet either.

This is just the first few minutes into the drama and we've gone into a commercial break. There's more to come. Someone is going to crack sooner or later.

[cassiepriam]

10. Keep going... how does it end!!??

Great post!

[LunaC]

11. Somebody squeals

Rove's wife will beg him to "think of the children." He'll give up Cheney (to protect Bush*) in exchange for a reduced sentence - 3 to 5 yrs. instead of a hard 30 - and he'll still be able to attend his daughter's school plays, graduation and marriage ceremonies when he gets out.

Cheney gets indicted and resigns and the whole PNAC conspiracy gets exposed (just for the hell of it, I sent Fitz a copy of PNAC 101 to give "context and perspective" to his investigation.) A new investigation is opened to determine if their stealth coup of the WH and march to a phony war was treasonous.

With astronomical prices at the gas pump, credit card fees doubling, and low, middle and fixed-income families and retirees having to choose between food, heating or meds this winter (while billions continue to get sucked into the black hole known as Iraq), the Dems take over Congress in the 2006 mid-terms.

Impeachment proceedings are initiated, Bush* is removed from office (with no authority to grant pardons) and Rove is out of a job.

In TV-land, the Bad Guys NEVER win and Justice is ALWAYS served!

[cassiepriam]

13. THANKS! I needed your posts, especially that ending!

Your ending would happen in a normal sane world.

[Jane Austin]

17. Rove's wife?

Rove has one kid, a son, I believe.

You must mean Libby's wife. They have younger kids.

[LunaC]

18. I stand corrected

This right-wing sites says he has two daughters

http://www.politixgroup.com/comm244.htm

But a further search and a more reliable source proves you right. Rove has a 16 yr. old son.

http://marriage.about.com/od/politics/p/karlrove.htm

[cassiepriam]

14. PS Maybe there should be a DU soap opera thread, just for fun!

Keep our spirits up!

[hang a left]

12. It wasn't illegal to tell Libby, he had clearance.

But if Libby admits Cheney said "go get that bastard, and make it look like his wife manipulated the trip". BAM conspiracy, several counts.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. right. but that can happen even though libby wasn't accused of

the crime of outing her? only of lying. That doesn't matter? so in your scenario, cheney is indicted for the actual outing crime? But you see, Cheney would never admit that in a zillion years. So unless libby has it written or recorded, I can't see your scenario happening. (unfortunately).

[hang a left]

16. No, I am not saying that Cheney will be charged with the outing.

What I am saying is that Cheney will be charged with criminal conspiracy to disclose classified information to those not authorized to receive it. Cheney was asking for information from the CIA and the State Department about Wilson, he also asked for and received confirmation of Valerie's position at the CIA. What was his intent? What did he plan on doing with the information. Certainly he can't argue that "I was just curious". What did he do with the information once he had it? What did Libby do with the information once he had it? See what I mean?