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Fitzgerald Speaks

Here is Fitzgerald's latest press release (pdf)explaining the Indictment.

Live blogging Fitzgerald's statement:

Valerie Plame's neighbors, friends and classmates had no idea she worked for the CIA. Her cover was blown with Novak's column.

Witnesses who come before grand jury must tell complete truth, especially when it pertains to national security.

Fall, 2003: Investigation began. FBI interviewed Libby, who is VP Cheney's Chief of Staff. Mr. Libby gave a story. Libby's story was that he spoke to Russert, and Russert told him that all the reporters know that Wilson's wife worked for the FBI. Libby then told Miller and Cooper. He told FBI he didn't know if she really worked for the CIA, it was just something he heard from reporters. He was just passing gossip.

It was a false story according to the Indictment. He spoke about it at least six times. He learned it from government officials on at least four occasions in June. From a senior CIA officer, from an under secretary of state, and from the VP on June 12. And from someone working in the VP's office.

He also discussed it three times with other government officials. He discussed it with a CIA briefer.

Libby discussed this information at least four times prior to July 14, on three occasions with Judith Miller, and once with Matthew Cooper. He discussed it with Ari Fleischer on July 7.

Mr. Libby's story that he was at the tail end of a chain of phone calls was false. He was at the beginning of the chain, lied under oath repeatedly. He was the first in the government to tell someone outside the government.

Q and A:

Investigation is not over. Substantial work is over. The grand jury is over. A new grand jury may consider other matters.

Won't answer questions about those not charged in Indictment.

Isikoff: Why wasn't Novak's leaker charged? Won't answer.

Won't stay what he is still working on.

He is not saying whether Plame was covert. He is not making that assertion. But her status with CIA was classified in 2003.

Fitzgerald does not have the authority to issue a report. TalkLeft was the first to report this information from our secret, eminently qualified correspondent here.

He didn't charge Libby with disclosure of classified information because of the intent element - that he knew and appreciated he was disseminating classified information. This was a weak answer on his part.

Reporters don't understand the grand jury process. Fitzgerald doesn't empanel a new grand jury to continue the investigation. He turns the case over to another grand jury already sitting in the District. There's always a grand jury sitting in D.C.

The investigation is not about whether the war was right or wrong.

He gives a long explanation of why the Espionage Act wasn't used with Libby - it requires more than improper disclosure of classified information.

Can't say whether the grand jury refused to indict on any counts.

Interesting: Libby charged with perjury in response to a grand juror's question.

He has asked witnesses not to compromise the investigation by talking, although legally they can.

It's over. Comments?

< Where Are the Plea Agreements? | Joseph Wilson's Statement >
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    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#1)
    by unbill on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    Cheney on CNN trying to steal the spotlight by talking in front of soldiers right when Fitzgerald is holding his press conference.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    Fitzgerald re GOP talking points that perjury is a "technicality" and/or the “criminalization of politics,” . . . “That talking point don’t fly.”

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#3)
    by unbill on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    Is that the president talking too live during the Fitz press conference? What is going on here? I am watching CNN International and they are showing a small picture of Fitz, a small picture of Cheney in front of soldiers (live in the corner) and a large picture of Bush (live in the corner). Are these really live images? Are Bush and Cheney both talking at the same time that Fitz is? How disrespectful if so.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    Interesting Raw Story article up. RS claims lawyers believe they can get Rove on more serious charges, and that we may not have to wait very long. There's already an empaneled GJ available for this purpose. Fitzgerald is looking into the Niger story. [links must be in html format]

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dusty on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    So..he really isn't telling us a damn thing is he? He's been talking for an hour and I still dont know if there will be others investigated for outing Plame and charged with the offense.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#6)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    This up on CNN dot com 7 minutes ago...
    The CIA leak investigation is "not over," special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said Friday after announcing charges against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff. Fitzgerald said he will be keeping the grand "jury open to consider other matters." MORE...


    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#7)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    Perjury, obstruction of justice; Libby's looking at 30 years. Before his pardon, that is.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    Well, he can't say very much about what he will do, right? would look bad for a prosecutor charging someone with obstruction of justice, perjury and false statements to end up in contempt of court or something. He's done a good job - in advance - of rebutting any "technicality" or "witch hunting" arguments the administration will try to use as spin. He's also told us - by implication - that we can expect to see judy miller and cheney on the witness stand. word on rove is he's still being investigated. rove has to be the one who leaked valerie plame's name to Novak, I think.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#9)
    by archpundit on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:30 PM EST
    ==So..he really isn't telling us a damn thing is he? He's been talking for an hour and I still dont know if there will be others investigated for outing Plame and charged with the offense. Never does--I have three quotes up from him in investigations from Illinois where he did the same thing. The only leak that might have ever come from Patrick Fitzgerald was when someone tipped off Matt Hale's arrest for plotting to kill Lefkow. Kass got a tip to be at the courthouse when it went down--it *might* have been Fitzgerald, or maybe a Federal Marshall or maybe the FBI Chicago. He doesn't leak he doesn't tell you anything, but what he's doing today.

    Re: Fitzgerald Speaks (none / 0) (#10)
    by TomStewart on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:31 PM EST
    I wouldn't want to play poker against Fitz...