I know full well that Libby wasnt indicted for leaking classfied information AND that he was indicted for more the "misleading investigators".
There are five counts in the indictment - one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements.
The indictment also includes the following language:
In connection with his role as a senior government official with responsibilities for national security matters, LIBBY held security clearances entitling him to access to classified information. As a person with such clearances, LIBBY was obligated by applicable laws and regulations, including Title 18, United States Code, Section 793, and Executive Order 12958 (as modified by Executive Order 13292), not to disclose classified information to persons not authorized to receive such information, and otherwise to exercise proper care to safeguard classified information against unauthorized disclosure. On or about January 23, 2001, LIBBY executed a written "Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement," stating in part that "I understand and accept that by being granted access to classified information, special confidence and trust shall be placed in me by the United States Government," and that "I have been advised that the unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized retention, or negligent handling of classified information by me could cause damage or irreparable injury to the United States or could be used to advantage by a foreign nation."
What is at stake is more than misleading investigators. The
crime is perjury and obstruction of justice.
While not directly indictable, the motive and rationale for those illegal actions exposes how the White House abused national security information for political purposes This trial will bring to light some of the ugly underbelly of this Adminstration and the actions it will take against those who threathen their policy objectives by exposing their lies. I stil think that is "serious shit."
I have only seen one quote from Wells opening statement:
Attorneys for former White House aide ``Scooter'' Libby said Tuesday that Bush administration officials tried to blame him for the leak of a CIA operative's name to cover up for Bush political adviser Karl Rove's own disclosures.
Attorney Theodore Wells, in the opening statements of I. Lewis Libby's perjury trial, said Libby went to Vice President Dick Cheney in 2003 and complained that the White House was subtly blaming him for leaking Valerie Plame's identity to columnist Robert Novak.
"They're trying to set me up. They want me to be the sacrificial lamb,'' Wells said, recalling the conversation between Libby and Cheney." I will not be sacrificed so Karl Rove can be protected.''
Without seeing the full opening defense, that is an interesting angle, dont you think?
More:
Michael Isokoff in
Newsweek describes Wells opening defense remarks as a “scorched earth” strategy pointing accusatory fingers at White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove as well as other top current and former Bush aides".