Cheney setting up defense for Libby

[dajoki]

Cheney says he's authorized to declassify government information

ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap02-15-152224.asp?t=apnew&vts=21520061813

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 — Vice President Dick Cheney disclosed Wednesday that he has the power to declassify sensitive government information, authority that could set up a criminal defense for his former chief of staff, I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby.

Cheney's disclosure comes a week after reports that Libby testified under oath he was authorized by superiors in 2003 to disclose highly sensitive prewar information to reporters. The information, about Iraq and alleged weapons of mass destruction, was used by the Bush administration to bolster its case for invading Iraq.

At the time of Libby's contacts with reporters in June and July 2003, the administration including Cheney, who was among the war's most ardent proponents, faced growing criticism. No weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq, and Bush supporters were anxious to show that the White House had relied on prewar intelligence projecting a strong threat from such weapons.

When Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald revealed Libby's assertions to a grand jury that he had been authorized by his superiors to spread sensitive information, the prosecutor did not specify which superiors.

But in an interview on Fox News Channel, Cheney said there is an executive order that gives the vice president, along with the president, the authority to declassify information.

[Dunvegan]

1. Well, Cheney toasted his own fat butt-just as well throw him to the wolves

Republican Ethics 101

[babylonsister]

2. Shouldn't Cheney be in Corpus Christi, nursing the man who

was the result of the worst day in his life? :eyes:

[dajoki]

9. yeah, the worst day in HIS life...

he makes it sound like he was the victim.

[babylonsister]

10. Remarkable, isn't it? nt

[dajoki]

12. yes, amazing people are still falling for it n/t

[cally]

3. Is that legal??

I heard that only the security agencies have this info. I don't think * could give that authority in an executive order. I haven't done any research or reading on this yet, though.

[Straight Shooter]

4. Cheney has the authority to commit treasonous acts?

Wow. Who wudda thought.

[mike_c]

5. I'd like to see how this defense works-- you can't "declassify"...

...the identity of a covert intel agent, because that identity is protected by federal statute rather than just by the will of the executive, if I'm not mistaken. Any DU lawyers want to chime in on that matter?

[ewagner]

6. That's not what Libby is charged with

Remember....

Fitz nailed Libby for LYING to federal investigators AND to the grand jury....it doesn't matter if he was revealing classified or unclassified information...he still

LIED

[Atman]

7. And I declare that I have the power to FLY!

Woohoo! Fuck reality! I'm going to start makin' it all up as I go along, just like Cheney does!

[spindrifter]

8. When did he get this "power"?

It is purely and simply more of the PNAC power-grab and is totally despicable. As the article points out, this does not give Libby a defense to lying in his sworn statements.

[babylonsister]

13. Please get w/the program. Libby is not involved.

But pushing PNAC is always advisable!

[annabanana]

11. waita minit!!

When Scooter's lawyer was working for Ollie.. wasn't it part of the stalling plan to claim that the lack of access to "classified" materials needed for his defense irrevocably hindered his ability to defend himself?

If Dickie can just declassify any damned thing.. doesn't that shoot this strategy in the foot?