Smoking Gun: Cheney wrote the Libby statement that went to Time’s Matt Cooper

[kpete]

Smoking Gun: Cheney wrote the Libby statement that went to Time’s Matt Cooper

Here at last is a smoking gun that shows Vice President Cheney together with some able helpers was the author, architect and instrument of the smear campaign designed to obscure the truth regarding the alleged imminent WMD threat.
We all "knew it" but until now we just could not prove it. I would bet not too many Boston Globe readers still know it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/28/12224/7658



(Cathie Martin, former top press assistant to Dick Cheney).
This was the last paragraph of a page A12 story in the Boston Globe today (January 28).

Ultimately, Cheney crafted an on-the-record statement to be attributed to Libby by name .
Libby called Matt Cooper of Time, who had e-mailed questions to Martin earlier.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/01/28/libby_case_witness_details_art_of_media_manipulation/

[Demeter]

1. Only If Cheney Lied to Grand Jury Could We See Any Joy of This

Don't you hate it when liberty, justice and the American way hangs by a thread?

[aquart]

3. Was Cheney ever under oath?

[Demeter]

6. I Don't Think So

Good Point!

[Fridays Child]

8. I wonder if a lie must be told under oath for it to rise to the standard of...

...obstruction of justice. Didn't Cheney get interviewed during the investigation? What did he say to Fitz? And even though this is Libby's perjury trial, what if details emerge that prove Cheney exposed a NOC?

[Demeter]

10. I Guess It Depends How Cheney Testifies (under oath) at Scooter's Trial

Of course, he's all lawyered up, so he'll avoid the obvious faux pas....

[Crabby Appleton]

14. Well, there's always this law

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001001----000-.html

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 47 > § 1001

§ 1001. Statements or entries generally


(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

[tblue37]

16. No, lying to Federal investigators is a crime, whether one is under oath or not. (eom)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

17. Under oath = perjury; not under oath = obstruction

Just like lying to an investigator, even if you didn't commit the crime

[BR_Parkway]

21. 2 words - Martha Stewart - no oath involved, simply lied to the investigator

[Hepburn]

24. No, it doesn't have to be told under oath. n/t

[leveymg]

29. Yes, when he was interviewed in Fitz's office in May 2004.

It really doesn't matter whether he was sworn in. If you lie to a gov't investigator it's Obstruction of Justice. If you lie under oath, Perjury. The penalties are the same.

[Decruiter]

9. We have a front row seat to see it all...

Imagine how thrilling our victory will be!

[newyawker99]

22. Hi Decruiter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[salin]

2. KaBoom!

k & r

[Olney Blue]

4. Cheney was the mastermind in the illegal leak and the cover-up.

Treason.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. I think what matters is what Cheney told Fitzgerald in his own interviews

and what he will say in his own testimony when asked about this specifically. I imagine things will get interesting then.

[leveymg]

30. Correct. If Cheney made material omissions or misrepresentations, he can be indicted

for Obstruction of Justice. Just like Scooter.

[formercia]

7. Fitz is just hooking the little fish now

He's about to lay a DuPont spinner on the big Carp.

[NanceGreggs]

13. Remember what Bush said last year ...

... when asked about his best day as president, and he said it was when he went fishin' and landed a big one?

Wonder if Fitz will be asked someday about the best day of HIS career - and will have the same response!

[formercia]

20. Carp are big fish too

but they stink when you open them up. Lots of stink.

[WillyT]

11. Yeah Baby !!! - K & R !!!

:nuke:

[porphyrian]

12. I'll kick that. - n/t

[blm]

15. Matt Cooper was another reporter who knew WH outed Plame but refused to tell

that truth BEFORE THE ELECTION in an effort to protect Bush'es campaign.

Cooper is married to a top Clinton strategist - Mandy Grunwald, and she, like Carville, KNEW that WH was lying about not leaking in 2003 and THROUGHOUT the 2004 campaign, but protected the WH and let Joe Wilson get smeared that entire time as a liar.

Fock Carville, Fock Grunwald. The Clinton team protected Bush AND his campaign that entire time.

[Botany]

18. Why does the Boston Globe love terrorists?

Cheney personally dictated these points to Martin. She e-mailed them to the White House press secretary for relay to reporters.

[kentuck]

19. Is there ever a "smoking gun" with this bunch of criminals?

Cheney is a low-life.

[Joe Chi Minh]

23. Are you serious? You can't see a hand in front of your face for smoke.

The mid-term election suddenly switched on the smoke-expeller fan.

[Zhade]

25. IMPEACH.

NT!

[jazzjunkysue]

26. Like it's news that Cheney was the puppeteer from the beginning.

We've always known that the vampire calls all the shots, according to KKKarl Rove's fiendish plans.

Now we have proof!

The GOP can just stay home. They won't be trusted again in our lifetimes at this rate.

Lincoln Chaffee had better change parties. Amen.

[leveymg]

27. Not sure Cheney actually wrote the instructions - no doubt he dictated them

to Libby and Martin. I talked to emptywheel (Marcy Wheeler) on Friday night, and she said that Schuster's report at MSNBC was wrong, and there's no memo written by Cheney that's been introduced on the record, beyond the Veep's hand-written notes on a copy of Wilson's now- familiar NYT op-ed.

In any case, IMHO, there's now plenty of evidence to support a conspiracy charge against Cheney.

[oasis]

28. I'm ready for Unca Dick to be frog marched out of the White House.(nt)