Libby trial witness leaves White House reeling

[G_j]

good headline..


http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1999552,00.html

Libby trial witness leaves White House reeling


Mark Tran
Friday January 26, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

President Bush's administration was today preparing for damaging repercussions from testimony by one of its own officials in the perjury trial of Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, the former chief of staff to the US vice-president Dick Cheney.

Cathie Martin, Mr Cheney's former spokeswoman, yesterday told a court that she clearly remembered telling Mr Libby the identity of a CIA operative, Valerie Plame, whose husband, Joseph Wilson, had attacked the Bush administration's case for war against Iraq.

<snip>
A staunch Republican, Ms Martin was recruited to work for Mr Cheney by Mary Matalin, a close friend of Mr Libby and Mr Cheney. She is married to Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and is currently the deputy director of communications for policy and planning for Mr Bush.

Her account of events backed up the prosecution's case that Mr Libby found out Ms Plame's identity from administration officials rather than from reporters, as he told investigators.


..more,,

[H2O Man]

1. Yep.

An "expert" on CNN this morning said that Mr. Fitzgerald has already shredded Libby's defense.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. From that last sidebar yesterday

it seems, Wells knows that too.

[Annces]

5. Why didn't he take a plea if he knew there

was a tidal wave of evidence against him?

[hootinholler]

13. Because then his roots would become disconnected

from all the other aspens. That cryptic message to Miller was if they get me, they get everyone.

-Hoot

[calimary]

38. Sumbitch - I bet that's it. Or at least, let's hope so!

"Out west, where you vacation, the aspens are already turning, and when they turn, they turn in clusters." I believe that's how the message was worded. Sure makes sense. Ari's already turned, BIGTIME, taking immunity protection in return for singing like a canary, no doubt. He's up on the stand today, too, or otherwise really soon, I believe.

Is it possible (PLEASE, God!!!) that other charges could result against other people, when they're finished with this one? Such as - if Fitz winds up with a shitload against cheney?

[madokie]

55. looks to me like it has only begun

with each passing day are new revelations

[bobbolink]

65. Could we pleeeeez have a party if this takes down Dickie-shoot-em-in-the-face?

I'm afraid I already have my hopes up.

For all these years, I've been able to see the shit for what it is, and not be hopeful at every little carrot dangled.

This time, however, .... well, I hope my faith in Fitzgerald pans out!

:party: :hi: :bounce:

[SpiralHawk]

56. Thanks - I'm having a D'oh moment

Finally I understand the aspens d'oh thanks hootie

you got it

[hootinholler]

85. Rare for you in my experience. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

75. Furthermore....

...in that message to Judith Miller, Libby pleaded with her to get out of jail and
to stop falling on the sword for these guys. Remember, when he said that she had
"important stories to write"?

He was telling her that they were going down--and it was not worth it to protect
(and remain in jail) for people who would be ruined in the near future.

[hootinholler]

84. It's only a matter of pardons at this point...

Who will get them and who won't?

-Hoot

[spanone]

14. Friday night news dumps, controlling the message. DU has been so right on these things.

Maybe there are fewer tin hats than we have thought?

[fooj]

83. You bet. My hubby and I were talking about that very thing tonight.

Let's give it up for the "conspiracy theorists"...:applause:

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

17. When you're dead-bang guilty, it's hard to defend you

What a show this is turning into.

In the first week of the trial, Cheney is implicated as being directly involved in the cover up and Libby's defense claims he was thrown to the wolves as a way of protecting Rove.

It appears that the only way Libby stays out of prison at this point it a pardon or a reversible error by the court.

[tblue]

32. The pardon is a given. But hopefully this trial will lead to other indictments

probably followed by more pardons, which will hopefully turn people off on the whole Republican race.

[Jawja]

34. Or perhaps

he makes a deal in a plea bargain to get bigger fish? :shrug:

[madokie]

37. so that means mr libby will have to talk to stay out of prison, looks to me like

[CoffeeCat]

76. Since Libby has stated that the administration...

...has made him the "scapegoat"--I don't think he'll have
any problem telling the truth about what they've done.

He's pissed.

[Morgana LaFey]

51. Oh, what a SHAME

:sarcasm:

aka: music to my ears. :bounce:

[Robbien]

2. Other than online blogs, this article is the best one out there

in MSM. Of course it is a foreign news source.

[napi21]

4. Hmmm, I wonder what expression is gonna be on Shrub's face

today when he's videoed trotting off to his chopper for his weekend trip to whereever???

I wouldn't want to be working at that WH NOW! Bet there''s a whole lot of really crabby people in them halls!

[bahrbearian]

26. I think Chimpy threw Snarly under the bus,,

Have Cheney resign appoint a new "Gerald Ford" then he can be pardoned himself.

[radfringe]

6. highlights

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=44205&mesg_id=44205

[redqueen]

7. Wasn't the Guardian going to open up a US branch?

I really really really really really wish they would!

[A Simple Game]

74. Now that you mention it, yes they were.

At least one of the British papers was going to. Seems like I heard it 2 or 3 years ago?

[Botany]

8. And it is just going to get worse

Lying to start a war and then covering it up will get both
bush and Cheney run from office.

[jaksavage]

23. Please Pleease pleeeease

Make it come true!!!!!!!!

[volstork]

53. Hurry up!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Fitzmas!"

[madrchsod]

9. this is getting really good!

"Cathie Martin, Mr Cheney's former spokeswoman, yesterday told a court that she clearly remembered telling Mr Libby the identity of a CIA operative, Valerie Plame, whose husband, Joseph Wilson, had attacked the Bush administration's case for war against Iraq."


did she have clearance to have this information?



"A staunch Republican, Ms Martin was recruited to work for Mr Cheney by Mary Matalin, a close friend of Mr Libby and Mr Cheney."

[bvar22]

10. Mary Matalin ???!!!!

..."Ms Martin was recruited to work for Mr Cheney by Mary Matalin, a close friend of Mr Libby and Mr Cheney"...


Is this the same Mary Matalin that is married to James Carville the DLC pundit and mole whose goal is to destroy the Democratic Party from the inside?
I HOPE this is the same Mary Matalin. I despise her. How nice that she would be instrumental in bringing down the NoeCons!


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[madrchsod]

11. along with her husband and his friends

he did`t know?

[goclark]

66. Two MOLES /Mary and the Deceiver

[ewagner]

12. Missing the best part: "Russert = Toady"

I love this. Cathie Martin confirmed what we've been saying about Russert and Meet The Press for the past six years. Here's the quote from the Washington Post:

Flashed on the courtroom computer screens were her notes from 2004 about how Cheney could respond to allegations that the Bush administration had played fast and loose with evidence of Iraq's nuclear ambitions. Option 1: "MTP-VP," she wrote, then listed the pros and cons of a vice presidential appearance on the Sunday show. Under "pro," she wrote: "control message."

"I suggested we put the vice president on 'Meet the Press,' which was a tactic we often used," (extra emphasis mine) Martin testified. "It's our best format."


Russert's credibility is COMPLETELY DESTROYED. Cathie stamped TOADY across his forehead in a big way....he owes the country an apology for impersonating a journalist.

[Kolesar]

18. This would support cynical suspicion toward Russert, but not evidence of collusion...eom

[ewagner]

46. Just a slight disagreement....

I think it shows that Russert's practice of being defferential and uncritical of anybody with the Administration and specifically of Cheney, allowed him to be used effectively by the Administration to broadcast their talking points.....I think Russert knew he was being used and traded it for ratings and a kind of legitamacy he really didn't deserve.


and.......

Because (except in these circles) the viewing public considers Russert to be the "dean" of political TV hosts, his uncritical acceptance of their story lines gave them credibility that they don't (and never did) deserve.

So I slightly disagree with you assessment.

[John Q. Citizen]

61. I agree with your analysis. n/t

[appal_jack]

40. spot-on! (n/t)

[lovuian]

44. It shows how Russert was being used and used to this day

its all manipulation of the media

[oldtime dfl_er]

45. its just smart use of russert

since he's often cowed by authority and often doesn't ask followup questions. Easy control, no actual collusion necessary.

[wilt the stilt]

15. I'm popping the Popcorn

Here is what I hope happens and I think this is what Fitzgerald is going for. He gets the conviction(I don't think he offered Libby a deal) and then he offers a reduced sentence for his cooperation to take down Cheney. Libby has 2 small kids and there is no way he wants to go to prison for 10 years and these guys are backstabbers.

[disndat]

19. Wow

You bring the popcorn, I'll bring the cold drinks. Fitzgerald reeling in the two big fishes.! More wow wow's.

[volstork]

54. Don't forget the Raisinettes and Milk Duds!

[we can do it]

69. I'll Bring Pizza!

[tblue37]

48. But a pardon would obviate that aproach, and Libby might

hold out for a pardon.

[Kolesar]

16. So, the story is that Cathie Martin found Plame's CIA role coincidentally when she called the CIA

And now she is not saying who directed her to blab it.

According to US reports of the trial, Ms Martin said she learned that Ms Plame worked for the CIA after Mr Libby told her to call the agency to get more information about Mr Wilson's trip to Niger. Ms Martin said she quickly passed on Ms Plame's name to Mr Libby and Mr Cheney.

[LiberalFighter]

30. How did she get the info from the CIA? Did CIA tell Martin about Plame?

Would that be something CIA would normally reveal?

[Kolesar]

39. Practically speaking, everybody at CIA was goddamned scared of Cheney

...and his lieutenants and would be quite compliant under fear of getting fired or having their lives ruined. I wonder if Joe Wilson is reading our threads looking for insights right now? I flatter myself.

[CTyankee]

50. Have you read his book "The Politics of Truth"? It is just excellent.

He goes over the events in this case (from his and Valerie's point of view) with quite a bit of specificity. It's wonderful; you'll love it.

I've also heard him speak and he's great, full of fire.

I think he probably would like to read our insights, if for no other reason than to see what we make of the situation. But I doubt if he goes to DU very often...

[Bucky]

20. Call me skeptical, but...

The White House wants Libby to take the fall for this; then a low-profile White House official shows up to testify in a way that hangs ol Scooter out to dry. I don't doubt his guilt, but it sure does look like a victory for Rove's fall-guy strategy. The sooner they discredit Libby, the harder it is to use his defense to get at the main players. "If thy right hand man offendeth thee, fuck him up."

[MaryBear]

21. Your skepticism is valid, Bucky.

How this information sends the White House reeling, I just do not see. To me it looks like an inside plan. She is a dedicated Rethug, and too close to Cheney et al to do anything that might harm. The White House knows about and wants this. For one thing, she cleared Cheney's involvement. What I wonder is whether Libby knows about, goes along with, and possibly benefits from being the sacrificial lamb.

[emulatorloo]

22. I read her the summary of her testimony and don't see how it clears Cheney

Sounds like Dick Cheney was in the thick things, pulling the strings, telling scooter what to do and say

(this I got from the live blogging of her testimony at http://www.firedoglake.com/

[MaryBear]

33. My opinion is based on the original citation.

What I read may not clear him, but it does seem to support that.

"A staunch Republican, Ms Martin was recruited to work for Mr Cheney by Mary Matalin, a close friend of Mr Libby and Mr Cheney... She... is currently the deputy director of communications for policy and planning for Mr Bush."

"Ms Martin said she learned that Ms Plame worked for the CIA after Mr Libby told her to call the agency to get more information about Mr Wilson's trip to Niger. Ms Martin said she quickly passed on Ms Plame's name to Mr Libby and Mr Cheney."


"But Ms Martin said that neither man had suggested that Ms Plame's identity be revealed as part of the White House plan. She said that she had no knowledge of either actually doing so."

She is an insider working on Communications. My main point was that this is no surprise to the White House. And also that she does not incriminate anyone but Libby. Her job is secure.

[emulatorloo]

41. At some point Cheney and Scooter cut her out of meetings

no longer allowing her to attend their plame strategy meetings if I read it correctly. This is a fascinating case!

At any rate her testimony that she told Scooter definately contradicts scooter's lie that Tim Russert told him.

[Olney Blue]

72. good point

[Norrin Radd]

86. Perhaps they had her call to find out the info they already knew. n/t

[Garbo 2004]

49. Martin shows Cheney considerably involved in the details of the whole thing, writing talking

points, what to say to the media for not just Libby but also Ari Fleischer IIRC, orchestrating the response to Wilson's op ed.

Libby's defense is that Wilson & "the wife" were nothing to him, he was far to busy with really important things to bother with the Wilsons. Hence he didn't remember what he knew, what several people told him. Yet here's Martin showing that it the Wilsons were very important to Cheney and thus also Libby, clipping newspapers, making transcripts of tv talk shows. The Vice President of the United States giving written instructions to senior aides on what to say to the press? Put together with other testimony and docs, it appears the OVP was obsessed with Wilson and how to respond to his allegations. Cheney and Libby. (Libby's own grand jury testimony told of how Cheney specifically instructed him to meet with Judy Miller and reveal classified info on July 8.)

Martin's testimony is one part of a portrait Fitzgerald is creating for the jury. There is and will be other testimony. There also are documents from the OVP, both Cheney's and Libby's. To date, her testimony while bolstering the "what Libby knew and when did he know it" basics (and Libby's own notes indicate Cheney had told him of Plame around June 12 so that Libby knew Wilson's wife worked for the CIA is not news) goes beyond that and gives a glimpse of how consumed Cheney was with Wilson.

Her testimony is very bad for Cheney IMO, not just Scooter.

An interesting note: "Emptywheel," one of the live bloggers at the trial, noted during jury selection that David Shuster of MSNBC raised an intriguing possibility and she perhaps presciently speculated:

January 18, 2007
A Really Good Reason to Call Dick, Part Two
by emptywheel

David Shuster is stumped. Is it possible, he asks, that a witness will contradict Dick's testimony?

Libby lawyer Ted Wells then said, “Vice President Cheney will be a witness in this case. If his testimony is contradicted by another witness, who you don’t know or have no feelings about, would your feelings about the vice president make it difficult for you to fairly evaluate the credibility of the vice president?”

What was Libby’s lawyer referring to? Is there a witness who will undermine the Vice President?

Shuster goes on to say there is no hint of such a witness in all the filings.

Despite all of the pre-trial filings, documents, and evidence released...this is the first time such a suggestion has been made in the CIA leak case.

In the filings, perhaps. But I've made such a suggestion, guessing (and it is a guess, mind you) that Cheney is being called to discredit one of Fitzgerald's most important witnesses, Cathie Martin.

It was clear as early as last March that two of Fitzgerald's most important witnesses are Cathie Martin and Ari Fleischer. Fleischer we believe to be the immunized witness. Libby has already laid groundwork to suggest that Ari testified to save his own ass.

But Martin may not be so easy to impeach. And if, as Murray's latest seems to say, the July 12 conversation aboard Air Force Two is really incriminating, then Libby's team needs to find a way to discredit Martin. Moreover, she was a witness to Libby's conversation with Cooper.

So I think it very likely that Cheney will come in and say that Martin's version of events is a bunch of baloney. Particularly given the way Wells described this hypothetical witness: "who you don’t know." Martin is, after all, the least known central witness in this case.

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/01/a_really_good_r.html
link to Shuster's blog: http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/36260.aspx

In the portrait Fitzgerald is creating for the jury, Martin's testimony IMO places Cheney deeply involved to the point of writing talking points, what senior aides should say to the media. Amazing. The Vice President of the United States himself providing scripts for staff to use with the media. Talk about a hands on kinda guy. Just in case anyone is tempted to think Libby, Cheney's loyal acolyte and right hand man, just turned rogue and went off on his own.

Fitz has considerable evidence from various sources that Libby already knew about Plame long before he claims he "forgot" he knew...Martin just corroborates that. But beyond that she provides a rare glimpse into the lair of the Cheney and how hands on involved he was regarding the Wilson matter and feeding the press info. What may come of it, who knows, but one can hope....

[MaryBear]

67. I did not get that

from reading this article. You all are obviously much more literate on the subject. Thanks for your clarifications. Not sure I will agree when I research more, but I am motivated to do so at this point.

[Garbo 2004]

68. The flood of info from many different sources is boggling. I recommend the FDL folks

who have been live blogging and analyzing the trial proceedings as one place to visit: http://firedoglake.com/ :)

[H2O Man]

24. Team Libby stated

that there is a division between the Office of the President (Rove) and the Office of the Vice President (Libby). The witness, Ms. Martin, is from the OVP. Her testimony weakened any claim that Libby is a "fall guy" for the Office of the President.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

78. H2O man You seem to be the primary keeper of Plame Gate

info., so I wanted to let you know (not sure if you do, but others have posted incorrectly), emptywheel was on C-SPAN this morning and said that Libby is facing 30yrs (3 @ 10yrs/offense).

I think 10yrs. vs. 30yrs., changes the picture immensely.

[colorado_ufo]

28. Agree with you, Bucky, it's an inside job.

No wonder she is reported to look so nervous on the witness stand - unless she fears committing "suicide." She should best stay away from windows on the upper floors.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

77. Paul Sanford (if he were still with us) could attest to that...

x(

[Jack Rabbit]

47. This isn't a good fall guy strategy

By protecting Rove, they are showing how Cheney is up to his eyeballs in this.

Consider the logic of the opening statements:

• The prosecution will show Libby was directed to leak by Cheney; and
• The defense will show that Libby is taking the fall for Rove.

My bet is that both the prosecution and the defense are right right and all three of them are guilty.

And then there's your favorite Frat Boy and mine. You know, the wizard who secretly declassified secret documents in order to give legal cover to this conspiracy.

[Jack Rabbit]

25. I wonder if Ms. Martin is going to have a job Monday morning?

Truth-telling is not tolerated in the Bush regime.

[Blackhatjack]

27. Yep, Because keeping her close by makes her easier to control...

... once she loses that job, their control over her is zilch, and she would undoubtedly write a book and spill the beans on all she knows at a time which would do the most damage to BushCo.

[havocmom]

31. Hoping she lives on the ground floor

and doesn't fly much

[Norquist Nemesis]

36. That's what's so intriguing about it! She moved from Cheney to Bush!

She's now an aide to Bush! Oh and BTW...she's married to Kevin Martin.

[Gman]

29. Scooter is now under the wheels of the bus

Bush threw him there having protected Rove. Cheney doesn't care as he is a known sociopath with no loyalties, but that's redundant.

[whistle]

35. In otherwords this Cathie Martin would not commit perjury for her boss

...Dick "Crash-Cart" Cheney.

Where have the Rosemary Woods of former Nixon days all gone?

[demo dutch]

42. Ari Fleishman will testify next but "under a grant of immunity"

He was one of the leakers and basically told Fitzgerald "Give me immunity from prosecution and I'll give you information that might help your case". Defense will do its best to blame the whole thing on Flesicher

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Prosecutor_gave_former_Bush_spokesman_immunity_0126.html

[lovuian]

43. Her Husband is head of the FCC so no wonder we

are not getting much coverage while his wife spills

wonder how long he will have that job

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. FUN, FUN, FUN

Spiro Agnew left in disgrace over tax evasion, this boy will leave in dsigrace over treason.

I will take Spiro any day of the week and twice on sunday over this crowd

[Blue_Roses]

57. I always love reading

the "Guardian". Clear precise and to the point:)

[lovuian]

58. I'm not thinking Martin is an angel here infact she is SCUM

She wasn't given Immunity

She better be real careful here
Talk about a hidden entity playing with some real scumbuckets
Bush Cheney Libby

and she never identified who in the CIA soldout Plame either
Did she have clearance to know what she knew

Does a underling of the Vice Prez just call the CIA and ask about Wilson on her own ...NO
She was ordered by Cheney to find out more about Wilson

Hello CIA this is Cathie Martin secretary to Vice Prez Cheney I need to know a covert agents name Valerie Plame and all about her
is that how the CIA is run??? don't they have protocols
and she did her job she revealed to Libby and Cheney Plame's identity

I kinda wish I knew who was on the other end of the CIA telephone call Don't you
did the transcripts say??? I missed it when I read it
Why didn't Fitz ask who at the CIA did you talk to?
Why was the CIA giving a Vice Prez this INFO? He has NO power there

martin did the dirty work for Cheney and libby
She is a scum bucket but at least she is spilling her guts
Maitlin's testimony should be interesting

[Virginian]

81. The clearance and need to know aspect makes me wonder

if she is lying now.

I would expect everyone working in the WH to have some kind of clearance. But as she has been described, she didn't seem to have a need-to-know to deserve a super duper highest of highest level of clearance.

[malaise]

59. Can't wait until the Brits

reopen the David Kelly so called 'suicide'.

[lovuian]

60. Kelly was assasinated and even though

an investigation doesn't say it Everybody knows he was

[malaise]

64. We know but it would be nice for the naive

to know as well.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

62. How Much Ya Wanna Bet That Someday This All Turns Into One Hell Of A Movie.

[disndat]

73. Just what I was thinking.

Are there parts for Clooney, Pitts and Jolie?

[Crabby Appleton]

63. You guys do know that Cathie Martin currently works in the

White House in the president's office where she is Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications?

WH reeling? I doubt it.

[PegDAC]

70. Just broke on Countdown

that Rove and Dan Bartlett have been subpoenaed to testify.

[ProudDad]

71. Yep, hanging him out to dry

or as nixon so beautifully put it, "left twisting in the wind!"

[upi402]

79. no pleading the 5th?

hmmm

well now!

[G Hawes]

80. THAT is great news! I wish I could be there in person to watch this trial !!!!!!!!!!!

but I'm too far away.

Are there any DUers nearby who can attend occasionally? It would be soooooooo great to hear from someone who is able to be there. I'm just tickled so far about how it's going but man it would be SO much better to have actually there. With over 100,000 members, there must be someone nearby with a few hours on their hands, no? Anyone?

[I_Make_Mistakes]

82. firedoglake.com has people attending the trail . They have

someone present in the court room (they are only allowed to take handwritten notes) and then a blogger emptywheel, who is blogging the proceedings from a remote location with a closed circuit relay of the proceedings.