October 11, 2005

National Journal: Libby Did Not Tell Grand Jury About Key Conversation

Here's the latest breaking news from National Journal special correspondent Murray Waas: "In two appearances before the federal grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's name, Lewis (Scooter) Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, did not disclose a crucial conversation that he had with New York Times reporter Judith Miller in June 2003 about the operative, Valerie Plame, according to sources with firsthand knowledge of his sworn testimony."

"Libby also did not disclose the June 23 conversation when he was twice interviewed by FBI agents working on the Plame leak investigation, the sources said."

"The new revelations regarding Libby come as Fitzgerald has indicated that he is wrapping up his investigation and making final decisions as to whether criminal charges will be brought in the case."

Posted at 04:12 PM

Comments

Suppose, for a moment, that the administration starts to believe that indictments are going to be handed down to one or more WH officials at or near Libby's level in the hierarchy. At what point do they start going into semi-overt damage-control mode? Could the anonymously leaked information that Rove may have misled the President on the matter be Step 1 in such a process?

How would such a scenario would affect WH strategy on other major political issues? For example, would one or more high-level indictments effectively torpedo the Miers nomination, or at least raise the odds of rejection on the floor to more than 50%? The nomination is based, after all, on a character judgement made by the President. How would other major WH agenda items be affected?

Adam | 10.11.05 07:26 PM

Post a comment