libby's leak
According to Murray Waas at the American Prospect, Judith Miller met with I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, six days before Novak's original column exposing Valerie Plame as a CIA operative went to print. This lends credence to the notion that he was at least one of the sources in the leak case, something that was initially vehemently denied by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. Of course, McClellan is the same man who claimed that any rumor that Karl Rove was involved in the leak was "ridiculous" (I guess "ridiculous" does not necessarily mean "untrue.")
While many may ask what in the world Miller is doing protecting Libby, I wonder how Libby, in good conscience, can continue to allow this reporter to remain in prison.
Other reporters have testified to the grand jury about meetings with Libby, but Miller has refused, insisting that the generalized waiver signed by all employees of the White House was coercive. Even at this point, presumably, if Libby produced a personalized waiver, Miller could testify and, thus, leave prison.
I guess the greater question is: Where is President Bush in all of this? How come he can't call in some of his closest and most trusted staff members, ask them what the deal is, and clear this whole situation up? If the administration really wanted to get to the bottom of this, the whole situation would have been taken care of two years ago.
Of course, the 2004 election probably would have been a whole lot different if the closest advisors of the President and Vice President were sitting in prison.
The new disclosure that Miller and Libby met on July 8, 2003, raises questions regarding claims by President Bush that he and everyone in his administration have done everything possible to assist Fitzgerald's grand-jury probe. Sources close to the investigation, and private attorneys representing clients embroiled in the federal probe, said that Libby's failure to produce a personal waiver may have played a significant role in Miller’s decision not to testify about her conversations with Libby, including the one on July 8, 2003.
While many may ask what in the world Miller is doing protecting Libby, I wonder how Libby, in good conscience, can continue to allow this reporter to remain in prison.
Other reporters have testified to the grand jury about meetings with Libby, but Miller has refused, insisting that the generalized waiver signed by all employees of the White House was coercive. Even at this point, presumably, if Libby produced a personalized waiver, Miller could testify and, thus, leave prison.
I guess the greater question is: Where is President Bush in all of this? How come he can't call in some of his closest and most trusted staff members, ask them what the deal is, and clear this whole situation up? If the administration really wanted to get to the bottom of this, the whole situation would have been taken care of two years ago.
Of course, the 2004 election probably would have been a whole lot different if the closest advisors of the President and Vice President were sitting in prison.
posted by ediehl at 10:33 AM
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