Juror calls on Bush to pardon Libby

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17506701/

Juror calls on Bush to pardon Libby
Ex-Cheney aide was ‘really nice guy’ who was ‘caught in the initial lie’

WASHINGTON - Saying “I don’t want him to go to jail,” a member of the jury that convicted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak case called Wednesday for President Bush to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff.

The woman, Ann Redington, said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Hardball” that she cried when the verdicts against Libby were read Tuesday. She said Libby seemed to be “a really nice guy.”

Redington said “it was very difficult — it was hard” to vote to convict Libby, who was found guilty of four of five felony counts accusing him of lying to a federal grand jury and the FBI. Prosecutors said he hoped to derail a special prosecutor’s investigation of the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a covert CIA operative.

“He seemed like a ton of fun. ... I didn’t want to see him and his wife and say he was guilty of a crime,” Redington told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. But she she said she had no choice given the evidence.

“I think he got caught in a difficult situation where he got caught in the initial lie, and it just snowballed,” she said.

:crazy:

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1271

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby



I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby served as Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff from 2001 until October 2005, when he was indicted in connection with the federal probe into the leaking of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame and resigned. In January 2006, Libby joined the rightist Hudson Institute as a senior adviser, focusing on Asia and the war on terror.

Libby was closely associated with the neoconservative clique that was instrumental in shaping the foreign policy of the Bush administration in the wake of 9/11. However, unlike most of his neoconservative associates, who tend to be prolific writers, the closest thing to a paper trail revealing Libby's views on U.S. defense and foreign policy is the now-infamous 1992 draft Defense Planning Guidance (DPG), a controversial defense blueprint created by the few neoconservatives—including Libby—in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. The draft DPG seems to have been a major influence on the evolution of neoconservative thinking during the 1990s.

...

In 1992, while he was working under Cheney, Libby teamed up with Wolfowitz, with the assistance of Zalmay Khalilzad, to write the Pentagon's new DPG. The draft version of the guidance, ordered by Cheney, laid out a military strategy for global military dominance and preventive war. A version of it was leaked to the press, and the DPG was toned down after the New York Times published a story about the document's recommendations for a post-Cold War defense posture. The draft DPG called for massive increases in defense spending, the assertion of lone superpower status, the prevention of the emergence of any regional competitors, the use of preventive—or preemptive—force, and the idea of forsaking multilateralism if it didn't suit U.S. interests. It called for intervening in disputes throughout the globe, even when the disputes were not directly related to U.S. interests, arguing that the United States should “retain the preeminent responsibility for addressing selectively those wrongs which threaten not only our interests, but those of our allies or friends, or which could seriously disrupt international relations.” The United States must also “show the leadership necessary to establish and protect a new order that holds the promise of convincing potential competitors that they need not aspire to a greater role or pursue a more aggressive posture to protect their legitimate interests.”

After 9/11, many of the ideas outlined in the draft DPG resonated with the Bush administration. When the administration released the unclassified version of President George W. Bush's National Security Strategy, observers remarked on the many similarities between the draft guidance and the new so-called Bush Doctrine, particularly their mutual call for a preemptive defense posture.

[AX10]

1. WTF?

[Mike Daniels]

4. Agreed on WTF

The juror admits the evidence basically required her to find him guilty but she wants him pardoned?

Why the hell didn't she just vote "not guilty" and throw the case into a mistrial if that's how she feels?

It's this and similar comments by other jurors saying that Libby was a fall guy that will result in this getting appealed.

[msongs]

2. its the right wing propaganda campaign to justify a pardon nt

[daleo]

35. It does seem that way

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. It seems incredible that Libby would be pardoned, but I put nothing past Bush. I suppose they would try to sell it as a response to a "grassroots campaign". The presidential pardon power has become a travesty.

[mod mom]

3. It made me sick-she was so flippant about it too. We have got to counter the right's

insistence that Plame was not covert. It pisses me off that they lie and disallow her from revealing her work status. This is what we need to counter with:

Crickets at the Washington Post

I have tried repeatedly in the last two weeks to get a letter to the editor and a letter to the Ombudsman (perhaps Ombudswoman?) published at the Washington Post in response to their clear policy of advocating on behalf of Scooter Libby.

Here's my most recent letter to Deborah Howell, the incompetent ombudsman:

Dear Ms. Howell:

Instead of turning to someone who actually knows the truth you prefer to bury your head in the sand of ignorance. It is not just my word. You can ask a host of retired CIA officers who can verify that Valerie Plame was covert until her identity was compromised in the Robert Novak article. The willful ignorance of the Post is a disgrace to journalism. The number of people who can vouch for Valerie's identity is significant. Ask Tyler Drumheller, Chief of the European Division of the CIA Directorate of Operations. Ask Robert Grenier. Ask me. Ask Jim Marcinkowski. Ask Mike Grimaldi. Ask Brent Cavan. Ask Gary Berntsen. Ask Mike Gorbel. Instead of talking to CIA officers who know firsthand, you rely on Victoria Toensing, who has ZERO experience as a CIA officer. Hell, ask John McLaughlin. Ask Bill Harlow (oops, I forgot, he already told your reporters she was undercover and asked them not to report it.)

Your ignorance and cowardice on this is breathtaking.
Larry Johnson




://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/feb/26/crickets_at_the_washington_post



On the May 1, 2006, Monday evening Chris Matthews' Hardball, "MSNBC correspondent David Shuster confirmed what RAW STORY first reported in February: that outed CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson was working on Iran at the time she was outed" in July 2003 as a CIA covert operative by Robert Novak (see below). <5> See MSNBC video links posted by Crooks and Liars and Brad Blog.

"Intelligence sources say Valerie Wilson was part of an operation three years ago tracking the proliferation of nuclear weapons material into Iran. And the sources allege that when Mrs. Wilson's cover was blown, the Administration's ability to track Iran's nuclear ambitions was damaged as well." <6>
Steven C. Clemons wrote April 25, 2006, in The Washington Note:

"According to some inside the intel arena, Valerie Wilson's work had a lot to do with monitoring Iran's nuclear weapons appetite and capabilities and possibly helped feed Iran nuclear technology junk that could distract and complicate Iran's weapons program efforts. If true, this is quite consistent with the Iran Chapter" in James Risen's new book, State of War: The Secret History of the C.I.A. and the Bush Administration, Free Press (January 3, 2006) ISBN 0743270665.
"But if this account of Plame-Wilson's activities is true, those who exposed Valerie Plame Wilson helped undermine American national security in much more major ways that haven't yet been disclosed."

-snip
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Valerie_Plame




Valerie Plame was a "covert agent" as defined by the law. In her cover position as a consultant to Brewster-Jennings, Ms. Plame served overseas on clandestine missions. Just because she did not live overseas full time does not mean she did not work overseas using her status as a non-official cover officer.

-snip

http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/10/the_law_is_on_t.html

Valerie Plame was undercover until the day she was identified in Robert Novak's column. I entered on duty with Valerie in September of 1985. Every single member of our class--which was comprised of Case Officers, Analysts, Scientists, and Admin folks--were undercover. I was an analyst and Valerie was a case officer. Case officers work in the Directorate of Operations and work overseas recruiting spies and running clandestine operations. Although Valerie started out working under "official cover"--i.e., she declared she worked for the U.S. Government but in something innocuous, like the State Department--she later became a NOC aka non official cover officer. A NOC has no declared relationship with the United States Government. These simple facts apparently are too complicated for someone of Ms. Toensing's limited intellectual abilities.

-snip

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-c-johnson/washington-post-_b_41548.html

Larry Johnson biography:

Biography

Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm that helps corporations and governments manage threats posed by terrorism and money laundering. Mr. Johnson works with US military commands in scripting terrorism exercises, briefs foreign governments on a regular basis on terrorist trends, and conducts undercover investigations on product counterfeiting and smuggling.
Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism, is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management.
Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world, including the Center for Research and Strategic Studies at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France. He represented the U.S. Government at the July 1996 OSCE Terrorism Conference in Vienna, Austria.
From 1989 until October 1993, Larry Johnson served as a Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism. He managed crisis response operations for terrorist incidents throughout the world and he helped organize and direct the US Government’s debriefing of US citizens held in Kuwait and Iraq, which provided vital intelligence on Iraqi operations following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Mr. Johnson also participated in the investigation of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership the U.S. airlines and pilots agreed to match the US Government’s two million-dollar reward.
From 1985 through September 1989 Mr. Johnson worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. During his distinguished career, he received training in paramilitary operations, worked in the Directorate of Operations, served in the CIA’s Operation’s Center, and established himself as a prolific analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence. In his final year with the CIA he received two Exceptional Performance Awards.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He taught at The American University’s School of International Service (1979-1983) while working on a Ph.D. in political science. He has a M.S. degree in Community Development from the University of Missouri (1978), where he also received his B.S. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1976.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. She does not think he is innocent

She just thinks he is "Too nice" to go to prison.

[underpants]

7. After reading the juror's notes on Huff Post I was amazed at how casual this whole thing was

No one seems to even consider what Libby et al did. It is all comments about clothes and "oh he seems nice". These people operate on that fringe-where you jump over for normal human understanding they slink around taking bite after bite until they have rendered the body useless.

Oh well I guess I couldn't be on a jury of such calm and rational people.

[fishnfla]

19. everyone should read those notes

these jurors acted like it was some sort of parlor game, kinda bothersome in the face of war, IMO. I think they were that way because it was an open and sewn shut case. The only real question that came up: where was Rove?

This lady had her chance when it was 9-2 for conviction. The 9 said: prove us wrong. She failed

This is her sour grapes

[Mike Daniels]

9. Is that sort of like the one teacher in Florida being ruled "too pretty" to go to jail

[Peace Patriot]

6. This is good. It shows just how guilty Libby is. A very sympathetic juror felt compelled

by the evidence to convict.

The question for the rest of us is: Why did he lie and obstruct this investigation? And the obvious answer--and the one strongly pointed to, by the prosecution--is that he was covering up for the mastermind of the Plame and Brewster-Jennings outings--Dick Cheney.

[olddad56]

8. Yeah, whats up with seemly nice guys having to do time. Just because he was guilty?

Maybe if he told the truth, and helped get his cold blooded killer of a boss behind bars, he wouldn't have to go to jail. And a lot of other nice guys wouldn't have to go to Iraq and get killed.

[central scrutinizer]

10. "ton of fun"??

Jeebus - this poor soul needs to get her head out of her ass. I bet Al Capone was a ton of fun, too.

[Locrian]

13. strange but believable

I was on a jury once for a rape trial. We had one juror who was the same way. Thought he was "too nice of a boy" to go to prison.

Of course, when we finally agreed on a guilty verdict, he had already fled the state.

[bdamomma]

25. nice guy huh? something to be learned about nice guys, like

how everyone thought Bush was the type of guy "to have a beer with" and some were very wrong about that huh?

[bdamomma]

14. don't these people know national security was thrown out the window

with exposing Valerie Plames identity.

[bdamomma]

11. this is such BS

I hope the Congress subpoenas Fitz's records, now it's Congress turn to go forward and get Cheney.

[Zenlitened]

18. Agreed. It;s time to put this whole case onto Comgress'... um, work surface.

Because, I'm convinced, a search for the facts will reveal so much wrongdoing that impeachment will HAVE TO be put back "on the table."

I'm still holding out hope that this is how Rep. Pelosi has wanted things to go: Investigations, mounting public outrage, then "give the people what they demand: impeachment. Just the very threat of it, supported by wide-felt disgust for this administration, might be enough for "resignations" throughout the Cheney administration/

Nancy Pelosi, you're one heck of a smart lady. And I sure hope you're playing this whole chess game like a grandmaster. But I'd sure like to see some signs of the endgame soon.

[maddezmom]

12. Why doesn't she call for the Congress to Impeach these bastards?

of for * to get rid of Rove? cheney? and anyone else involved. :eyes: Feel sorry for him...NEVER! :mad:

[bdamomma]

28. the House has to initate impeachment first if I understand that

correctly. I wish the local state governments would start initiating resolutions to do this, just like Vermont.

[redqueen]

15. F$#* you, lady!

:nuke:

Scooter Libby lied to investigators in order to cover up his role in helping his boss in his efforts to smear and discredit Wilson, solely because he was doing his patriotic duty... he was trying to share with the all too easily led people of this country some of the evidence that should have been a freaking clue that Cheney & Co were indeed LYING this country into war!

How many innocent Iraqis have died so far? How many soldiers?

And this ignorant fool is CRYING! For HIM!

:banghead:

[Moochy]

33. Amen to that

How & why is it that the two jurors who were against convicting him, but failed to convince the other jurors, are the ones we get to hear from on the TeeVee?

These paid liars in the media make me sick.

[sallyseven]

16. Libby cannot be pardoned.

I saw her and she was just a little to goody goody for me. The guy was a lier and a snake. He had no feelings for anyone. He is like his boss. Just to peas in a pod.

[olddad56]

17. Libby will be pardoned, that is a no brainer. ..

He didn't take the fall without that deal in the bag. Last day in office, Bush pardons Libby. Bush would have too much to lose by not making that deal before the trial.

[Bake]

20. She's an idiot. Plain and simple.

"We convicted him, but don't send him to jail!"

Bull. Sh*t. If I were on the jury, I would be outraged if there was an immediate pardon. Hell, if there were EVER a pardon. It's a thumb in the eye to the jury.

Bake

[shanti]

23. what you said!

!!!! :(

[rodeodance]

21. She forgets-Libby is an adult--loyal to the Bushies!!---He was the decision-maker

to tell big fibs!

[bluethruandthru]

22. I think she has a bit of a crush on Scooter.

Watching her last night, she got almost giddy when she talked about him! While I appreciate the fact that the jury carefully deliberated and I'm glad they came to the conclusions that they did...these kind of statements by jurors are unbelievable! He's guilty but too nice to go to prison?! So only unpleasant people should go to prison??

[grasswire]

27. she has a crush on Libby, Tweety has a crush on her

MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about your feelings. You were known to have cried during the reading of the verdict.

REDINGTON: Well, it was very emotional.

MATTHEWS: You like the way I save the really tough questions for the end?

REDINGTON: Yes, I was known to have cried. I‘m not a big weeper in real life. But it was—you know, it was very difficult. It was.

MATTHEWS: Well jeepers creepers, why were you a weeper?

REDINGTON: Because it was hard, it was hard. I didn‘t want to have to see his wife and him, and to say that we think you are guilty of a crime. It is a hard thing to do.

MATTHEWS: So there was certainly nothing in your heart that was vengeful. You were doing what you thought you had to do, and yet you did it this against a person you sort of liked. You have said this a couple of times.

REDINGTON: Absolutely. Yes. I mean, I won‘t say we had affection for him, we don‘t know him that well.

MATTHEWS: (INAUDIBLE) you, did you feel affection for him?

REDINGTON: Sure. Yes. I mean, he looked like a really nice guy.
You know, Judith Miller told this story about him in Wyoming and his cowboy hat. And I have lived out West, and just—you know, I can picture it so perfectly and Scooter at the rodeo and I—you know, he.

[bluethruandthru]

34. ACK!

...scooter in his cowboy hat in Wyoming with Judith Miller!!?? Were the Aspens turning too?

:puke:

[yardwork]

24. This juror sounds like she is dumb as a chicken

I'm sorry. Scooter "seemed like a ton of fun" - ?????

Does the juror realize what he did? Honestly. I wonder.

[grasswire]

26. this woman claims to be a "voyeur"...

...and had a very enjoyable time sitting in judgment of the traitorous Libby. She said on MSNBC it would be "fun" if he were pardoned immediately.


MATTHEWS: Well, here is a question that is more human than political. Scooter Libby is eligible, as is any American who has been convicted of a crime, for a pardon from the president. Do you think he should get one?

REDINGTON: Whether or not he should get one, I don‘t know that I have a valid opinion. But I would like him to get one.

MATTHEWS: OK. That is a valid opinion. Do you think he should get one now when it might cause the president a little trouble but would keep him out of federal prison or do you think he should get one later at the end of the term when the president can do it like midnight Christmas Eve when nobody is watching? What would be more appropriate?

REDINGTON: Well, it certainly would be more interesting if he got one now. It would just be.

MATTHEWS: Because?

REDINGTON: It would be more fun to follow—I mean, obviously it would create work for you.

MATTHEWS: Well, I don‘t mind it.

REDINGTON: You would have a lot to talk about.

[anotherdrew]

30. is this juror suffering from profound developmental delays?

she sounds like a slow child

[IWantAChange]

29. Tweety sure displayed his top-flight journalistic abilities w/those tough questions

NOT

[choie]

31. Not surprising, in a way

First, of course I disagree with her; she helped convict the guy rightly, and the crimes of obstructing justice and lying to the feds deserve punishment. (I'm ignoring his greater crimes, e.g. for spilling Plame's identity in the first place, because for the juror that was not part of the case.)

But I can sorta understand someone who, having convicted a guy for a seemingly non-violent crime*, ends up feeling burdened by the weight of responsibility and even remorse at the knowledge that s/he's affecting another human's life. I served on a jury and found it very difficult to find the defendent guilty for a burglary charge, though the evidence was overwhelming. I did my duty and voted with my head, not my (young and bleeding) heart, but immediately afterward I still had pangs of remorse. Eventually I sucked it up and accepted the fact that I'd merely played my duly appointed role as a necessary cog in justice's machinery. The guy did the crime, he's gotta do the time.

Thus too with Libby, and hopefully the juror will see it that way soon -- well, assuming she's not secretly a repug shill, which I doubt since she'd have simply hung the jury.

* If the conviction had been for the Plame-betrayal, that's another story. I think the prosecution would have been able to better explain that it was a vicious, malicious and reckless attack on Plame and her colleagues that could have deadly consequences.

[sakabatou]

32. ...

[Megahurtz]

36. "He seemed like a ton of fun"???

Seriously, does this Woman have much for brains?

[stillcool]

37. I wonder if she's considering...

her financial options. Sometimes the prospect of a windfall makes people do/say crazy things.