The unanswered question

[leftofthedial]

If the investigation is over, what "justice" did Libby actually obstruct?

Doesn't this verdict unavoidably imply that larger crimes were committed, about which Libby lied?

[northzax]

1. no

you can obstruct justice in a case in which no other crime was committed simply by interfering with the investigation of that event, even if it is found to not be a crime.

[tridim]

3. But in this case a larger crime was committed..

No need for hypothetical.

[northzax]

8. not neccesarily

the only crime that has been demonstrated at this point is the obstruction of the investigation and lying to the grand jury about it.

Remember, if Armitage, for instance, as the leaker had the permission of the President to disclose classified information, then it ceases to be a crime.

[leftofthedial]

6. Sorry for not being clear. I'm not asking a technical legality

I mean the facts of this case as presented show clearly that larger crimes were committed.

If the juror knows that Libby was a "fall guy," then it's clear he's taking the fall for some act committed by someone else. The juror specifically named Rove and Cheney.

[still_one]

2. The only way more charges can be brought up is if Congress does their job

I wouldn't count on it

What did Libby actually obstruct? The investigation by the justice department

[tridim]

5. Why wouldn't you count on it?

Have you not been paying attention the past few weeks? Congress is doing oversight now, for the first time in 6 years.

[leftofthedial]

11. what congressional investigation is exploring the Plame outing?

:shrug:

[still_one]

13. Because they are afraid of their own shadow

[leftofthedial]

7. but in this specific case, the specific facts

led at least one juror, Denis Collins, to conclude that Libby was a "fall guy" for Rove and Cheney.

It seems clear that the evidence in THIS case shows that other crimes were committed.

Libby didn't lie about his own perjury. He lied about exposure of classified information.

[Duer 157099]

4. Only to those who can think beyond a 5th grade level

which seems to be very few

I was not impressed with Fitzgerald's press conference. For someone who said that there was no question that Plame's status was classified, and that both Cheney and Libby learned about this through official channels, and that this info was passed on -- apparently just isn't that important anymore.

WTF?

[leftofthedial]

9. He said he and his team were outraged (my word) and could not let perjury

go unprosecuted. They seemed duty bound to prosecute once they saw that perjury had been committed.

Where's the similar outrage about treason?

This makes no sense at all. I have to keep reminding myself that Fitzgerald is a repuke.

[Duer 157099]

12. That was EXACTLY what I was thinking/feeling

I don't get it. I just don't get why so many think he's some sort of savior.

He actually said he has no plans to investigate anything further.

I guess it just doesn't really matter.

[Bluebear]

10. (Charles Ives earworm, thanks)

[leftofthedial]

14. sorry

that was wholly inadvertent

LOL