Judge: Libby May Use Classified Data

WASHINGTON -- Classified information will be key evidence in the CIA leak trial and Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald went too far in his proposal to limit its release, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is charged with lying to investigators in the case and wants to present classified material at his trial in January to show jurors that he had a lot on his mind and couldn't remember details about the leak.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said Libby has a right to use some classified material at trial in January. Walton has not said publicly what must be allowed, and both sides are arguing behind closed doors over how the information will be blacked out for jurors.

In a ruling Monday, Walton said Fitzgerald's proposed redactions were too restrictive. The memory argument is a key part of Libby's defense, Walton ruled, and he must be allowed to use classified information to make that case...

Link to article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300837_pf.html

The popcorn here...



So what kinda classified information are we talking about here and what is redacted? Curious minds want to know. How much of this info will the Executive let out without a fight? Does this give Fitz the right now to open the floodgates to other confidential information he may deem important to rebut whatever Team Libby comes up with?

Calling H2O Man....

on edit: Got a smaller wagon for the graphically impared...

Judge Walton is making fair rulings. Certainly Mr. Fitzgerald, like all good attorneys, starts by asking for what would be the best for him, and the worst for the opponent, knowing full well that the judge will allow some give and take.

The only potential "downside" would be if the administration took the position that the limited information that Judge Walton will allow into the trial is too sensitive to allow to be made public. However, even if the OVP does lobby for this, my understanding is that the Office of the President is not planning to try to stop the prosecution of Libby.

The Libby/Graymail dodge isn't working?

In my opinion, Libby is in a far worse position right now than he was, for example, in April of this year. There are three reasons why: {1} Mr. Fitzgerald is very good at what he is doing; {2} Judge Walton is doing a very good job; and {3} despite having talented lawyers, Scooter is guilty as hell.

thanks. :)

:rofl:

of VP Cheney's handwriting on that NY Times op-ed by Ambassador Wilson.

The GOP has a bad habit of not being able to remember, the awful shit they just did. They ALWAYS remember to try and cover it up, but they ALWAYS forget the part, about them doing it!