CNN: Libby's lawyers: Prosecutors withholding information

[DeepModem Mom]

Libby's lawyers: Prosecutors withholding information
Thursday, April 13, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorneys for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the indicted former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, are accusing federal prosecutors of withholding information needed to provide their client with a thorough defense....

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"The government has effectively conceded that the case extends far beyond Mr. Libby but refuses to provide defendant with discovery that reflects that fact," defense attorneys said in Wednesday's documents.

The attorneys added that the government "proceeds from the flawed premise that the defense must accept the government's version of the facts in crafting its discovery demands."

They contend Libby needs extensive classified files from the government to demonstrate that Plame's CIA connection was a peripheral matter that he never focused on and that the role of Wilson's wife was a small piece in a building public controversy over the failure to find weapons of mass destructions in Iraq.

Libby's attorneys said they are seeking "documents generated, received or reviewed by key potential trial witnesses about events the government describes in the indictment." They said they have received about six boxes of discovery documents so far, although the prosecution has collected thousands of documents....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/13/libby.lawyers/index.html

[drm604]

1. Riiiiight....

Libby needs "extensive classified files" to properly defend himself, but of course they can't be provided because they're classified. Therefore he's being denied the right to defend himself properly. How conveeeenient!

I believe this is called graymail and I don't think judges look upon it kindly.

[stepnw1f]

2. Gray Mailing... (nt)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. Awww! Poor Libby's not being treated fairly!

[Selteri]

9. LOL I love how they have to throw attacks

It's like dealing with the Mafia or a spoiled child, it's everyone else's fault and everyone is conspiring to make sure it's not fair for them when they are the ones who have already done the act.

[Demit]

4. The charges are perjury and obstruction of justice. What would these docs

have to do with what he's under indictment for? CNN does a nice job of laying out the accusations of Libby's lawyers, making it sound as if they are being stonewalled by Fitzgerald, but they do a piss-poor job of putting the accusations into proper context.

[warrens]

5. Libby had better get plastic surgery

He's trying to widen the case, and turn it into a full discussion of White House tactics to justify Iraq. I'd recommend he leave the country and get a new face. Unless he really hates breathing.

[janx]

8. That's exactly what he's trying to do.

And my guess is that Fitzgerald knows it.

[donco6]

10. BINGO.

That's exactly what his lawyers are doing. They learned from Whitewater et al.

[KittyWampus]

11. is this good or bad for the country? Good= uncovering crime Bad= evasion

is what is in Libby's interest in this regard also in America's collective interest?

[donco6]

12. I guess the prosecutor gets to decide that.

That's usually the basis for any plea agreement - the greater good, the bigger fish . . . etc.

[Wink]

6. Gonna be pardoned anyway....

...so why bother with the charade. Libby knows that they could have a video of him handing over a manilla envelope to Judy Miller that says "Super Secret Files, for President Chimpy's Eyes Only" and Chimpy would still pardon him.

[hang a left]

7. They are trying to figure out what Fitz has and who is helping the

prosecution.

"The government has effectively conceded that the case extends far beyond Mr. Libby...."

I believe that is called "fishing".