Libby: Don't release grand jury tapes (to public)

[struggle4progress]

By: MATT APUZZO - Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is fighting to keep his grand jury testimony about the leak of a CIA operative's name from being released and broadcast in the media.

Libby's grand jury testimony -- the sworn statements he gave to investigators about his conversations with Vice President Dick Cheney and journalists -- is at the heart of his perjury trial. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald plans to play hours of recordings of that testimony in court next week to bolster his case that Libby lied and obstructed the investigation.

Trial evidence is normally public and all exhibits in Libby's case have been made public so far. Even though Fitzgerald successfully fought to get Libby's full grand jury testimony admitted into evidence, Libby's attorneys say the audiotapes should not be released outside the courtroom ...

Attorneys for The Associated Press and a dozen other news organizations said they would challenge any effort to seal the tapes. Court papers were to be filed Friday afternoon. Walton said he would consider the matter over the weekend.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/03/news/nation/14_26_262_2_07.txt

[knight_of_the_star]

1. So why can't the people's evidence be reviewed by the people

What is in that testimony that is so damning to Libby?

[speedoo]

2. His lies.

I can't wait to hear them. I've been following the liveblogging at firedoglake. Justice is being done, and it's the beginning of the end of bushco. If not the beginning of the end, certainly the trial is accelerating the process.

[aquart]

3. And then, Irving, we'll put them on YouTube.

And DU. And Crooks and Liars. And Firedoglake.

Ten year olds on MySpace will know what you did, you treasonous bastard.

[POAS]

4. Cockroaches always run from the light n/t

[lovuian]

5. Why is this not Broadcasted through all the US

I want to hear his voice

Whats the secret??? We can hear other trials but not this one

!@#$%^

[LiberalFighter]

10. Do we generally get to hear the voices of other trials?

I don't believe so.

BUT we do generally get to read the transcripts of those trials when made available. It may be more damning for Libby if we get the audio version but the written version may hurt him also. Would Libby argue against the transcript being released too? If so, what would be his legal justification?

BUT Grand Jury material can become public once the Grand Jury has ended.

Why so much interest in keeping his testimony secret? Did he say some things that BushCo would not be happy about and seek revenge? We can only hope!!!

[salin]

6. what a suprise - trying to keep the real behavior of top bushco

actors secret? Is Scooter a little ashamed? No sympathy. Libby was being paid by the taxpayers - and we the taxpayers ought to be able to fully understand the actions of those we pay. Most important - it seems that this 'official' was acting with great contempt towards we the people - we ought to be able to hear the evidence of this venality.

[truthisfreedom]

7. Insect screams "Please! Don't use RAID!"

And the Exterminator doesn't listen, of course.

[HuffleClaw]

8. bwahahahhahhahaaaaa

ok, that is just hilarious.

[flamingpie2500]

9. Not surprising from someone in this administration--they all think they are above the law.

Probably doesn't want them released because it's totally damning. Bush will pardon this asshole but he will certainly be convicted in the publics eye.

[LiberalFighter]

11. That could be the motive

If the testimony is released then Bush may decide the hell with Libby I'm not giving him a pardon.

Bush is the vindictive type.

[Hepburn]

12. IMO, good point....

...Libby may still have hopes of a prez pardon...and I said maybe...but if BuchCo is tarred and feathered in public opinion from hearing the words and the demeanor of one of the players in the outing and the at temped cover up on Plame, that hopes of any pardon may go big-time bye-bye.

[Lugnut]

13. What's the matter Scoots?

I think Scoots has something to hide. :sarcasm:

[emulatorloo]

14. kick n/t

[DemReadingDU]

15. from Murray Waas

Patrick Fitzgerald, that most secretive and discrete of federal prosecutors, did something very un-Patrick Fitzgerald-esque late last week, that went largely unnoticed except by an AP reporter and the Huffington Post.

Fitzgerald sought permission from the federal judge hearing the Libby case, Reggie Walton, to release audio tapes of LIbby's grand jury testimony to the media: to be broadcast, posted on the Internet, YouTube, or wherever else. That would surely change the dynamic of public attention to the case. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox would probably endlessly play portions of the tapes, and the public would be able to hear Libby's testimony first-hand.

I don't like to predict, even while blogging, but most legal experts doub that the grand jury tapes will be made public, and Walton's comments from the bench indicated that he has not been exactly enthralled with the idea of the tapes being played 24/7 on the cable networks and Internet. But Walton is an unpredictable jurist, and a careful stickler to case law, so perhaps it is best to just await his decision to find out what it might be.

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2007/02/libby-trial-weekend-edition-patrick.html

[LonelyLRLiberal]

16. Maybe Scooter displays an arrogant attitude that make his lies even worse.

But why would Fitz want the actual audio to be released to the public? I hope that it is because listening to the tapes would be a dramatic exclamation point to a coming indictment of Cheney.