| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
27 Jan 2007 05:47:25 PM |
| Object: |
What’s behind Former White House spokesman's scandal trial immunity deal? |
What’s behind Fleisher’s immunity deal?
Saturday, January 27th, 2007
Former White House spokesman Ari Fleisher received immunity from
prosecution in the investigation of the outing of covert CIA operative
Valerie Plame and now defense attorneys for former Vice Presidential
chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby want to know why.
Writes Matt Apuzzo of The Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070127/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial;_ylt=AoxAHBITMwp5QyyYvtLCwiqyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
Attorneys for former vice presidential aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby
want more information about an unusual immunity-from-prosecution deal
that government lawyers gave former White House spokesman Ari
Fleischer in the CIA leak case.
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald says that in early 2004, as his
investigation was heating up into who revealed CIA operative Valerie
Plame’s name to reporters, Fleischer stepped forward with an offer to
prosecutors:
Promise no prosecution and he would help their case.
Fleischer acknowledged being one of the leakers, but he wouldn’t say a
word without a promise of immunity.
Prosecutors normally insist on an informal account of what a witness
will say before agreeing to such a deal.
It’s known in legal circles as a proffer, and Fitzgerald said Thursday
that he never got one from Fleischer, who was chief White House
spokesman for the first 2 1/2 years of President Bush’s first term.
“I didn’t want to give him immunity. I did so reluctantly,” Fitzgerald
said in court Thursday.
“I was buying a pig in a poke.”
Defense attorneys are skeptical. Fleischer is expected to testify
Monday against Libby, who is accused of lying and obstructing
Fitzgerald’s investigation.
Attorneys are preparing court documents demanding to know exactly what
Fleischer promised in exchange for immunity.
“I’m not sure we’re getting the full story here,” defense attorney
William Jeffress said in court.
Once the deal was struck in February 2004, Fleischer revealed that he
had discussed Plame with reporters in July 2003, days before leaving
his job at the White House.
He also said he learned about Plame from Libby, who was the chief of
staff to Vice President ***** Cheney.
Fleischer’s testimony is significant because he says he talked to
Libby about Plame days before Libby told the FBI he was surprised to
learn it from a reporter.
Libby’s attorneys want details about Fleischer’s agreement to cast the
defendant as someone who’s pointing fingers to protect himself.
Fitzgerald says he doesn’t have to disclose his conversations with
Fleischer because they weren’t about specific testimony.
“It wasn’t as if someone said, ‘Here’s what I can give you about Mr.
Libby. Is that good enough? You know, will that give us immunity?’ ”
Fitzgerald said.
“That wasn’t it.”
__________________________________________________
Intriguing stuff.
Harry
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| User: "Neolibertarian" |
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| Title: Re: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?What=92s?= behind Former White House spokesman'sscandal trial immunity deal? |
27 Jan 2007 11:57:40 PM |
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In article <94pnr253tebach4ii9d4jju8pvmoeludpl@4ax.com>,
Harry Hope <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
What’s behind Fleisher’s immunity deal?
Probably nothing.
Like the nothing that was behind the "leak" investigation in the first
place.
--
NeoLibertarian
"Nobody inherits their civilisation.
You always inherit the /ruins/ of your civilisation.
Beginning with yourself."
--Dennis M. Hammes
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