Ralston's Deposition

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/06/ralstons_deposi.html#more

June 18, 2007
Ralston's Deposition

by emptywheel

Oh, this is getting good. As part of his interim report on RNC emails, Waxman released Susan Ralston's testimony before the committee. Reading the deposition, it becomes pretty clear why Tom Davis was trying to warn Rove of the danger of Ralston's testimony. Because even what she was willing to testify to makes it clear that Rove is in some deep legal trouble. And then when you look at the areas where she carves out immunity for herself, you realize that if she were ever to testify under immunity, Rove would be in deeper trouble.

The carved out areas, as already reported, pertain primarily to the Abramoff scandal and the use of RNC emails--both area where Ralston's position as Karl's gatekeeper would implicate her in the larger workings of the WH. For example, here is Brad Berenson, the GOP's designated firewall defense attorney, explaining the limits of Ralston's testimony on RNC emails.

lots more...{Rove's e-mails, Ken Mehlman, the Plame investigation, Niger documents, it's getting juicy!)

I would find it interesting reading.

Surely Congress can require that Rove no longer feed at the public trough, assuming he is a government employee. If he isn't a government employee, what is he doing in the White House? Ralston roasts Rove -- that's my take. There is a lot more where that comes from. Suzy Q is holding back the best stuff. This deposition was intended to tantalize and entice -- and it sure does.

Apparently Rove can have a political computer and a political phone on the one hand and a nonpolitical phone and computer on the other. I recall that the Republicans raised the roof at the possibility that Gore might have attempted to make fundraising calls from his office in the White House during his vice presidency. I'm not familiar with this law. It is unclear to me what is allowed and what is not.

Ralston Depo re Plame discussions between Libby and Rove
page
61:I7 a Why do you believe that he talked with that office
18 about this subject?
lg A I just have a vague recollection that he and
20 Scooter Lìbby talked about this subject often.
2I a Often?
22 A Often.
23 a During what time frame?
24 A I don't know. I mean, I ìt is really hard for
25 me to say.
62
I Q And when they discussed this topic , do you know
2 specifically what they said?
3 A No, I was not Present.
4 a And the conversations were not repeated to you?
5 A No.

OK so how does Ralston know that Libby and Rove were talking about the Plame matter if she was not there? Was it written in Rove's appointment book or on his telephone record?
Also, did Libby and Rove talk about the Plame matter after the investigation started? If not, why did they talk about it? Did Fitzgerald ask Rove about his discussions with Libby about Plame? If Ralston kept the appointment books for Rove, you would think she would have noticed when the discussions between Rove and Libby took place re Plame.

This is very interesting testimony. Ralston forgets very conveniently. Either she remembers very well, but does not trust her memory or she is forgetting on purpose. Normally, in a deposition, the examiner is entitled to a best estimate. You would think she would be asked to give her best estimate on this.

so she's following her lawyer's advice:

One of my favorite exchanges is when Berenson reminds Ralston that "she doesn't recall" something, rather than that it didn't happen.

Q Did anyone at the Whìte House ever discuss with you the use of that claim 'in any public statements made by Whit House officials?

A No.

Q Karl Rove didn't discuss this claim with you?

A No.

Mr. Berenson. Do you want to clarify that last answer?

The Witness. I don't recall. I don't have a recollection of anyone discussìng with me specifically that claim.

No wonder Berenson's clients don't recall so much--he specifically reminds them to tell them what they don't recall.

Re whether Ralston recalls Rove talking about the fact that the documents on which the Niger uranium claims were based:

4 A Well, I just remember the topic, when it happened,
5 that ìt was a topic of discussìon in the building. I don't
6 have a specific recollection of it.
7 a So you don't recall any Whìte House officials
8 taking steps to investìgate how that claim once the news
9 came out that the basis for the claìm was forged documents,
10 you don't recall any White House offìcials taking steps to
11 investigate how that claim was used?
12 A You know, they may have. I just I don't know
13 what those would have been.

I would have thought Rove would have been on high wire recover and repair mode when the news that the Niger uranium claim was based on a forged document came out. Maybe he was not surprised. Hmmmm. Are we?