Thursday, January 25, 2007

Summation of Libby Trial for January 25, 2007: Train Wreck!


Today's cross-examination is former Press Secretary to Cheney, Cathie Martin. Ms. Martin revealed on the stand that she briefed Libby and Cheney on Plame's identity. What is interesting that she told Cheney on a date that was prior to July 6, 2003. Libby had claimed that he learned Plame's identity days later. Some interesting highlights from Martin's testimony:


Martin: Scooter goes up to front of AF2, then comes back, has a card in hand. It says
He wants us to give statement on the record. He wants me to do it.

Martin: He is VP and Me is Scooter Libby.

Fitz: introduces card.
Martin: I asked for the card, I wanted to type up the quote, to make sure the reporter got the quote right.


Score three for the prosecution on the Libby's lack of memory defense.

Martin: Should we call Newsweek to be fair to them, since we don't normally give an on the record conversation. Scrambled for Evan Thomas' number. I had … I don't think we yet had the number. Called my press secretary for the number. Need to get back to Kessler. It was late, it was Scooter's son's birthday. We'll ride home with you in the Van so you can get home sooner and be with your child.

And I wonder what was Scooter's schedule that day of his son's birthday. Sound to me that Libby has selective memory rather than faulty memory claim.

The defense was trying their best to discredit Ms. Martin's testimony and memory. I called this day of the trial a "train wreck" for the defense because defense team are losing focus again on what their client's defense is: memory loss. It makes me wonder is the U.S. vs. I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial is about perjury? I am beginning to feel that the case is leaning toward a memory loss trial in trying to figure out which person lost his or her memory the most. I understand that the defense is using the strategy of questioning the memory of the witnesses' accounts into doubt. But, what the defense team don't realize that they have to put Libby on the stand to discredit the government witnesses' accounts. Yet, the defense team are cornering themselves into a no-win situation in this case because they are turning their case into he said, she said and not making a case that their client, Libby, did not commit perjury to the Grand Jury and FBI. A book and a beginning, middle and an end. And the beginning of the book sets a presence to what the book is about and a message at the end of the book. The defense team certainly leaving several question marks in the juror's minds of Libby's actual defense.
Blogger Jackie said this comment about the case:
"Eleven lawyers and 3 law firms to try to get a guilty man off. Fitz team to get him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Priceless."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the jurors are able to keep up with who forgot what when and remembered what when.

SP Biloxi said...

Let's hope that jurors take plenty of No Doz tomorrow and stay alert with Wells and Jeffress.

airJackie said...

TGCN don't' worry like true Americans they will remember the visit by Tom Cruise just like Libby remembered. Some things just stick out. As the buzz words come out they'll remember it's on their note pads. In short Libby got hosed.