Summation of Libby Trial for February 13, 2007: A Nail in the Coffin

Here are the highlights:

Jill Abramson, New York Times' managing editor, was called first by the defense today. Abramson was asked about former Times' reporter Judith Miller's testimony that she had asked Abramson in 2003, when the latter was Washington bureau chief, if she could write a story related to WMD and her recent talks with Libby. Abramson denied it. Here is Abramson's testimony to Jeffress:

Jeffress: Did Judith Miller come to you to recommend the New York Times pursue a story about whether Ambassador Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA?

Abramson: I have no recollection of such a conversation.

Deborah Bonamici of the prosecution team cross-examines Abramson:

Bonamici: In your dealings with Ms Miller, did you sometimes find yourself tuning out her conversations?
Abramson: It's possible that I occasionally tune her out.

Libby's team was attempting to call Miller's credibility into question with Abramson's testimony. Didn't seem to work.

John Hannah, Cheney's senior aide, took the stand. . He succeeded Libby as the vice president's top national security adviser. He testified that 1) there was a tremendous workload and flow of information in the office in 2003 at the time of the Wilson/Plame episode. and 2) Libby was known then to have an awful memory on certain things. He then described an average (busy) day and the important matters that might have distracted Libby at that time. Libby usually worked until 9 p.m., very liate in the evening and often met with Cheney, and handled difficult briefings and attended complex meetings all day. Fitzgerald crossexamines Hannah. Fitzgerald merely got Hannah to establish that part of Libby's job then was also to push back against criticism of Cheney. Fitzgerald also asked one question meant to remind jurors that Libby wasn't too busy to meet Judith Miller for a two-hour lunch. Again, sticking to the timeline:

Fitzgerald: Scope of COS as you understood it. Part of it was to protect OVP and VP from public criticism.

Hannah: It's not the formulation I would use, Need to go out and truthfully defend office from unfair criticism.

Fitzgerald: Especially important if it was directed at integrity of VP or OVP, and integrity of Admin, OVP, VP, in terms of Iraq.

Hannah: It would be important pushback, yes. [he's a lot more reluctant]

Fitzgerald: Best time to see Libby was evening, particularly if you focus July 6. Fair to say during that week, if you said tomorrow morning take an hour or two to go out for coffee, he wouldn't take that time.

Hannah: It would be harder.

Fitzgerald: If he gave someone an hour or two, it was something Libby thought important.

Hannah: WRT me, yes.

Bingo! Later in the afternoon, we were hit with this news: Cheney and Libby will not testify. And the defense will rest its case tomorrow. Close arguments will start on Tuesday of next week. From Firedoglake:

Prior to lunch I indicated to the court that I would be making recommendations to Libby with regards to the progress of his case," Wells told the courtroom, according to emptywheel. "Over the lunch hour Mr. Jeffress and I advised Cheney's lawyer."

"If we had called him he would have been available on Thursday," Wells reportedly continued. "We have released the vice president as a witness."

Well, my pic tells you where this case is going...