Wilson challenges subpoena in CIA leak case

[CatWoman]

WASHINGTON – Former ambassador Joseph Wilson asked a federal judge Wednesday not to force him to testify in the CIA leak case and accused former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of trying to harass him on the witness stand.

Libby, who faces perjury and obstruction charges, subpoenaed Wilson as a defense witness this month. Libby's attorney, William Jeffress, said in court Tuesday that was a precautionary move and he did not expect to put Wilson on the stand.

Libby is accused of lying to investigators about his conversations with reporters regarding Wilson's wife, outed CIA operative Valerie Plame. Plame and Wilson have sued Libby and other Bush administration officials, accusing them of plotting to leak Plame's identity as retribution for Wilson's criticism of prewar intelligence on Iraq.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061220-1428-cialeak.html

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. DU Lawyers--What would be the advantage of this?

I don't know if it's the law or not, but would putting him under subpoena as a witness (precautionary?) prevent him from speaking about the case in public while it is on-going? :shrug: That's the only 'advantage' I can see in doing this.

[Fridays Child]

3. If the defense is trying to muzzle him, Joe Wilson is right to fight the subpeona.

I sincerely doubt that he has any real qualms about being examined on the stand by Libby's attorneys.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Completely agree.

Wilson's attorney was on last night and said he's never met or spoken with Libby. :shrug: Plus, the charge is 'lying to a Grand Jury'.

[elehhhhna]

4. It WILL keep him out of the courtroom during proceedings

for the duration of the trail, if upheld.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. That doesn't seem a concern, IMO

Even if it's related to Wilsons' suit against Libby, Cheney, Rove, and Armitage his lawyers will have people in that courtroom intently listening/watching. Libby's lawyer is calling is "precautionary".

[Hepburn]

29. Agree....

...standard motion to exclude witnesses at start of trial....and if Wilson is subpoenaed, he stays outside the courtroom during the entire trial unless called and released or released from the subpoena without being called.

IMO, if the atty does not intend to call him ~~ why subpoena him? I can imagine motives of being nasty...but cannot say conclusively that this is what is going on.

JMHO

[warrens]

9. His lawyer said it's an attempt to sabotage Wilson's lawsuit against Libby

Get him on the stand and go fishing before discovery even opens on the civil case.

[robertpaulsen]

2. A defense witness? What the hell did Wilson "witness" Libby do?!

Have they ever met before? Geez, Libby is getting very desperate. Walton should see this quite clearly and throw this subpoena out.

[Totallybushed]

5. I don't see how he

can avoid it. He's a central figure in the whole story. I want Libby to go down, but I don't want him railroaded to do it.

[Spazito]

6. Wilson has NO connection to Libby with regard to the charges

Libby is facing which are:

one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements.

All the charges relate to Libby's grand jury testimony and have NOTHING to do with Wilson.

The Libby defense team is throwing everything but the kitchen sink in the mix in a desperate hope to cause a delay in the trial or, better yet, a dismissal so has added Wilson to the list along with, I have little doubt, everyone else and their dog. It won't work but they will keep trying now that their gray-mail attempt has failed.

[Totallybushed]

11. No?

And yet his charges were the start of the whole thing. I think a case can be made that his testimony is crucial. Maybe not. But he really has nothing to fear from testifying, does he? And I think it would be good to once again bring his charges before the public, which has a notoriously short attention span.

[H2O Man]

15. Name a single thing

that Wilson could testify about that has anything to do with what Libby is charged with.

[elehhhhna]

10. Oh gosh no we can't let the Bush DOJ "railroad" poor Scoots.

Oh the humanity!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[elehhhhna]

13. "Don't be an ass"? Pardon me, and enjoy your stay.

What makes you think Joe would be a witness FOR the defense? Can't wait to hear.

[Totallybushed]

17. Got no idea.

I'm not a lawyer. But I think the man, any man, is entitled to make his defense. If that includes inconveniencing Joe Wilson, or you, or me, then so be it.

[H2O Man]

18. Name a single thing

that Wilson could testify to that has any significance to the charges Libby faces? Just a single example?

[Totallybushed]

20. OK. you can't think of one.

I can't either. But that doesn't mean that Scooter can't, or his high-priced lawyer can't. Perhaps they are trying to run with the theory I've heard floated that Fitz, unable to come up with a verifiable crime being committed is settling for trying to make a liar out of a man who had too much on his mind to remember evrything that he said to journalists.

Now, you don't believe that is the case, and neither do I. But it makes as much sense as the defenses that OJ Simpson and Scott Petersen put on. One was convicted, and one was acquitted, but both defenses were fantasies, lies even. And they were permitted to bring these up. And 50/50 odds are lots better than 0/100 odds.

I'm just saying, I want justice, not revenge. I want the man convicted after being given every chance to prove his innocence, same as I would want for myself. How about you?

So your question is really irrelevant. I guess a judge will decide. That's what they get the big bucks for.

[H2O Man]

25. emit kelly. n/t

[Totallybushed]

31. That's Emmet Kelley.

And a typical reply from those who can't conduct a proper argument based on facts and logic.

But never mind, you've answered the question. You are willing to sacrifice the constitutional rights of those with whom you disagree.

[H2O Man]

34. Wrong.

I was commenting on you.

[Totallybushed]

35. But so self descriptive.

Never mind, I know where you stand.

Say. I have a question. Are personal attacks against the rules here?

[H2O Man]

14. Baloney.

Wilson is not part of the case against Libby. The defense team is looking to distract the jury.

People interested in this should read the transcript from the May 5 pretrial hearing. The case is not about the Iraq war, the 16 words, or Wilson's trip.

[CatWoman]

16. wondering when you might show up

:hi:

thanks for the email

:loveya:

[H2O Man]

19. Hello, CatWoman!

Things are beginning to move faster on the Plame scandal. Please watch Hardball tonight.

[CatWoman]

21. Will do!!!

I'm leaving work early so that I can be home in time to catch the 5 p.m. show.

[stop the bleeding]

22. Hey everyone

I have been down and out for a while, this is the first thread that I have checked on in a while. I, like you all are very interested in this and the Hardball episode(s). I will not be able to see Hardball tonight, but I will try to check back later for any threads/conversation on the subject. Like H20 said things are starting to move pretty quick in this trial, so I need to get back in the game and up to speed.

[faithnotgreed]

24. hey - we are glad youre here

sorry that you have been feeling down and out of late and hope all is ok....

this is surely a topic to get your blood pressure going up (as well as your hopes)

[DemReadingDU]

27. Glad your are back!

We've missed you!

When you have a chance, could you check the research forum, and see if it is up to date with all the latest Libby court filings, now that the Libby case is heating up, Thank you!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=358&topic_id=3589

[DoYouEverWonder]

30. Hope you're feeling better?

Let us know if there's anything we can do?

:hug:

[Morgana LaFey]

32. Distract the jury, distract the media, harrass Wilson, get info other

than via normal depositions in connection with the Wilson's suits, etc., etc., etc. Just a cute but baseless legal ploy.

Wilson's lawyer said in an interview on MSNBC the other day that there is literally nothing Joe knows about Libby that could be of assistance in his case.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Supoena Libby's wife, children, grandchildren, parents, mistress or whatever,

kitty kat, auto mechanic, stocker broker, hair stylist, etc

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

26. Wilson is brilliant!

Even though Judge Walton had to admonish Wilson's lawyer today, for talking to Hardball, this suit lays another brick down on Cheney's road to indictment. In big headlines: CHENEY MUST TESTIFY! Because the MSM will have contemplated just WHY Wilson's testimony is irrelevant, they will be forced to also report on why Cheney's testimony is at the heart of the whole leak case. Effing tactical genius!

"CHENEY INVOKES 5th AMENDMENT"

If Cheney testifys, He will be indicted for perjury. If not, he is indicted when Scooter rolls on him. The Wilsons win their civil suit going away, and Rove is in the crosshairs either way.

I read all the Plame threads, and now I am still alive to see the chickens come home to roost. This ought to end in charges of high treason, and although I am passionately against the death penalty, I do note that treason can result in a sentence of execution...

[lostnfound]

28. Kick nt

[Catherine Vincent]

33. I didn't watch Hardball yesterday.

Did anyone watch? What was said about the Plame case?