WP: Trial Could Pit Libby's Interests Against Bush's (new Rove info!)

Trial Could Pit Libby's Interests Against Bush's
By Jim VandeHei and Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, November 1, 2005; Page A02


Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, is expected to plead not guilty to charges that he lied and obstructed justice in the CIA leak probe when he is arraigned Thursday, setting the stage for a possible courtroom fight in which Libby's interests could collide with those of the Bush White House, according to several Republican officials.

Libby, who was charged with five felonies, is putting the finishing touches on a new legal and public relations team. It will argue in court and in public that he is guilty of nothing more than having a foggy memory and a hectic schedule, according to people close to him. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court before Judge Reggie B. Walton....

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If Libby's case goes to trial, (David) Addington and (John) Hannah are only two of the many White House officials -- including Cheney himself -- who could be forced to testify about how they handled intelligence, dealt with the media and built the argument for the Iraq war, according to people close to the case. Republicans worry that Libby's court fight will force President Bush to deal with the prospect of top officials testifying and embarrassing disclosures of how the White House operates and treats critics.

It is also possible, they note, that Libby will strike a plea agreement and avert a public trial....

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A source familiar with the discussion between Rove and Fitzgerald said the Tuesday meeting was about a lot more than "just an e-mail from (Adam) Levine."...Rove remains a focus of the CIA leak probe...."Everyone thinks it is over for Karl and they are wrong," a source close to Rove said. The strategist's legal and political advisers "by no means think the part of the investigation concerning Karl is closed."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/31/AR2005103101494.html?sub=AR

I've been thinking he'd plead guilty, do a little time until the '06 elections are over, then get pardoned, just to avoid a trial.

Bizarre behaviour from these people.

If the WH clamps down using imperial perogative or some such thing is Libby's defense confounded?

Protecting the myth of Executive Priviledge is something the wingnutters support...would this be just as good as a pardon?

Impeachment for lying? Up or down vote for SC nominees? One can go down the list of things they "support" when it suits them and not when it doesn't. Don't recall executive priviledge for Clinton.

...."Everyone thinks it is over for Karl and they are wrong," a source close to Rove said.

Soon after, he will be walking the halls of the highest levels of government just like Elliot Abrahms and John Poindexter...or he will be a TV commentator just like Gordon Liddy or Chuck Colson.

could try to drag out the trials until the last days in office. That means it's up to us to demand Rove and anyone else indicted resigns as Libby did.

But we'll have to see what unprecedented George and his string pullers attempt. In either case, it's up to us - we have to educate the mall shoppers and couch-dip empty headers. We must fight the right wing media.

so it will be delayed years.

issuing pardons left and right.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/September/05_opa_509.html

In September he pardoned 14 people. I guess he is just getting ready for the big onslaught of pardons at the of his term.

I realy don't need these liars in jail, just out of my white house.

Rove is clear, only Libby is in trouble? Does that really help unthinking Repub supporters stick together and not abandon their ship?

I want to see Karl in a jumpsuit SOOOOO bad.

Hey, I've got to try this one!

"Uh, Mr. IRS Agent, I didn't really try to defraud the government. I merely suffered from a foggy memory and a hectic schedule!"