Miller can't be 'absolutely, absolutely' sure Libby was first source

[sabra]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-31-libby-trial_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

Miller can't be 'absolutely, absolutely' sure Libby was first source

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New York Times reporter Judith Miller acknowledged Wednesday that she had conversations with other government officials and could not be "absolutely, absolutely certain" that she first heard about an outed CIA official from I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Libby's attorneys seized on the hesitation and tried to portray Miller as someone who selectively remembers some conversations and not others.

...

Jeffress persisted, showing Miller excerpts from her grand jury testimony in which she said her conversation with Libby was "among the first times" she heard about Plame but couldn't be certain it was the first.

"You're not absolutely certain you first heard that Mr. Wilson's wife worked at the CIA from Mr. Libby?" Jeffress asked.

"I can't be absolutely, absolutely certain, but I have no recollection of an earlier conversation with anyone else," Miller replied.

[saltpoint]

1. The merits of the two disputants' cases notwithstanding, I am

getting real tired real fast of Judith Miller's chameleonic loyalties to the truth.

[schmuls]

15. love that word...chameleonic

[Frances]

2. It seems to me that Libby's defense lawyer

is trying to defend Libby as THE leaker. But Libby is being charged with lying, not leaking.

[rsdsharp]

5. I think he's trying to show the jury that if Miller can't

absolutely recall where she first heard Plame was CIA, it's reasonable for Libby to have forgotten when, and from whom, he first learned it.

[antiimperialist]

9. There is a difference

Miller does not have 5 witnesses claiming that she was obsessively seeking information about Plame. Libby was ordered by his boss to discredit Plame. Miller did not have the necessity to remember.

[rsdsharp]

12. I don't disagree with you.

But the defense has always been he couldn't remember exactly when he learned about Plame because he was so busy with "important" stuff.

[AlCzervik]

11. Libby's lawyer is trying to cast doubt on his client.

[buff2]

3. Helping to cover up the bu$hco crimes

way to go judith!
What a tool for bu$h and his cronies. :puke:

[rodeodance]

4. uummm--Is this Libby's Get out of Jail card?

[jayfish]

6. I Would Think That Fitz Would Absolutely...

murder her on cross. At the very least get her ass fired. She doesn't even know who her own sources are?

Jay

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Maybe Mr Grossman can throw some light on this?

or Colin Powell or Mr Gannon or... or....

[antiimperialist]

8. Judith Miller is not the only witness who contradicted Libby

So this does not make a difference. The evidence is overwhelming against Libby. It only matters that he spoke to Miller and the other 4 officials about Plame. Libby said he first heard it from Cooper. This is not true.

[confludemocrat]

10. Poor Fitz, having to rely on the credibility of a Judith Miller and an Ari Fleischer

to get the job done. What a fix to be in.

[Marie26]

13. So she heard it from someone else, too.

I'd bet, from someone outside the Administration. Chalabi? Her notes from the Libby meeting referred to "FLAME?", not Valerie Plame. It's almost like she was wondering whether this is the same woman her other source was referring to.

[cap]

14. despair not...

I think Fitzie is letting everyone play out. Can you imagine how this looks to have EVERYONE not remember. By the time this is over, everyone will be in the klink for perjury.