Attorneys: No Backstory in CIA Leak Case

[DoYouEverWonder]

October 31, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby agree on something: keeping Libby's perjury trial in the CIA leak case focused solely on his actions. The two are separately asking a federal judge not to allow three years of politically charged backstory in the case to seep into Libby's trial starting in January.

In new court documents, Fitzgerald argued that he shouldn't have to explain why Libby was charged while others, including the source of the leak, escaped prosecution. Libby said jurors shouldn't hear about New York Times reporter Judith Miller's 85-day jail term for refusing to discuss her conversations with him.

The court documents, filed late Monday, are an effort to keep the trial focused on whether Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, lied to investigators about his conversation with reporters regarding CIA officer Valerie Plame.

Libby's supporters have accused Fitzgerald of singling him out while not charging the source of the leak, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Fitzgerald wrote Monday that discussing that issue would be irrelevant.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103100557.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. Good idea. The defense is going to attempt to bamboozle the jury.

The more complicated they can make the case, the harder it will be for the jury to keep their eye on the ball.

I still want justice for Valerie Plame and all those harmed by the traitors who betrayed her, her comrades, and this country.