Waas: If Libby's found guilty, "investigators are likely to probe further"

[Rose Siding]

snip>
At the time that Libby offered his explanation to Cheney, the vice president already had reason to know that Libby's account to him was untrue, according to sources familiar with still-secret grand jury testimony and evidence in the CIA leak probe, as well as testimony made public during Libby's trial over the past three weeks in federal court.

Yet, according to Libby's own grand jury testimony, which was made public during his trial in federal court, Cheney did nothing to discourage Libby from telling that story to the FBI and the federal grand jury. Moreover, Cheney encouraged then-White House press secretary Scott McClellan to publicly defend Libby, according to other testimony and evidence made public during Libby's trial.

If Libby is found guilty, investigators are likely to probe further to determine if Libby devised what they consider a cover story in an effort to shield Cheney. They want to know whether Cheney might have known about the leaks ahead of time or had even encouraged Libby to provide information to reporters about Plame's CIA status, the same sources said.

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/021907nj1.htm

[JDPriestly]

1. Novak said he got the story from a lobbyist.named Hohlt

that he gave a copy of his story to Hohlt before it was published and that Hohlt sent story to Rove. What I want to know is who told Hohlt? Was Hohlt giving a copy of the story to Rove because Rove had told him the information in the first place?

Who told Hohlt? Was it Cheney? Libby? Armitage?

[wordpix]

2. I'm betting "Hohlt" is a figment of Novak's imagination, the "Tim Russert" of Novak's defense

These guys are all piss poor liers, like many are. As my repug family member says, "Why don't they just say they don't remember instead of naming someone like Tim Russert? It's pretty easy to call Tim Russert in to confirm or deny the defense."

Obviously, we were talking about Libby at the time and my response was, "He was lying to protect Cheney." My family member just couldn't believe that was true and started talking about the war for "freedom."

[Kagemusha]

3. Easy to call Russert? Like hell!

It took an FBI agent to get anything out of him the first time, and when he was asked to come testify before the grand jury, he balked, NBC balked, big first amendment fight, reporters shouldn't have to testify about anything ever, fight, fight, fight.

Fitzgerald had to fight very hard to get Russert on the stand.

[Aussie leftie]

4. My money is on the puppeteer (Cheney) encouraging Libby

to provide the information. When are the new exterminators in the White House going to start getting rid of the sewer rats?