WILSONS' ATTORNEY STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO JURY’S VERDICT IN U.S. V. I. LEWIS “SCOOTER” LIBBY

[robertpaulsen]

WILSONS' ATTORNEY STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO JURY’S VERDICT IN U.S. V. I. LEWIS “SCOOTER” LIBBY

March 6, 2007

Washington, DC – First, Valerie and Joseph Wilson would like to express their appreciation to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald and the entire team of federal prosecutors for their professionalism and hard work. Their prosecution of a senior White House official illustrates that we are a nation of laws and that no man is above the law. The Wilsons respect the jury’s verdict and thank the jurors for their service. The entire Wilson team is pleased by today’s verdict and believes that justice has been served in this case.

The Wilsons will continue to pursue the civil case against Vice President Cheney, Mr. Libby, Mr. Rove and Mr. Armitage because it hinges on additional and different facts from those underlying the criminal case. The criminal trial was about whether or not Mr. Libby obstructed justice and committed perjury by lying to FBI agents and the grand jury about the fact that he had disclosed to reporters that Valerie Wilson worked for the CIA. The civil suit, on the other hand, hinges on whether or not the defendants violated the constitutional rights of Valerie and Joe Wilson by making those disclosures in a concerted effort to retaliate against Joe Wilson for revealing the falsity of the president’s rationale for the Iraq war.

Disturbing facts emerged from the criminal trial that are highly relevant to the civil case. For example, the American public learned details of how Vice President Cheney orchestrated the concerted White House effort to discredit and retaliate against Joe Wilson. Towards that end, the vice president enlisted the aid of other senior administration officials including former press secretary Ari Fleischer, vice presidential assistant Cathie Martin and presidential advisor Karl Rove. Testimony in the criminal case also confirmed that Mr. Libby spoke to numerous reporters in an effort to persuade at least one of them to publicly reveal Mrs. Wilson’s covert status.

Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director and counsel to the Wilsons stated, “The civil case may provide the American public with its only opportunity to hear directly from Vice President Cheney, Mr. Libby, Mr. Rove and Mr. Armitage about what really took place behind the scenes after Joe Wilson exposed the truth about the administration’s justification for the Iraq war.”

http://www.wilsonsupport.org/node/313

Mods, please delete if this is a dupe. I just thought it's important to remind everyone that Cheney, Rove, Libby, Armitage and 9 other John Does still face a civil suit regarding Valerie Plame's outing.

[Missy Vixen]

1. Proud to be the 5th

On to the Greatest page!

Julie

[Marnieworld]

2. Correct me if I am wrong but

Aren't the rules for witnesses different in a civil case? Could all of those people be forced to testify with supoenas?

[Me.]

5. Yes

The Paula Jones case took care of all that, may they rue the day

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

13. May the persecution of Bill Clinton bite them in their collective asses

And hang on like a pit bull.

[Virginian]

21. Historical viewpoint.

edited to finish because I timed out in an earlier attempt to post.

In 20 years I hope history views the Impeachment of Clinton as an early strike by the neo-cons before they were able to seize control of our government and install their puppet. Jeb probably regrets that his brother was the one installed as puppet because it has hurt his own political future.

Jeb (the smart one) has not renounced PNAC and its plan for world domination. He has a lot of time on his hands these days. Don't let him fly below the radar.

[robertpaulsen]

15. Oh yeah! That was a nice Pandora's Box they opened!

Remember that old meme "It's about the lies!" Why aren't those reich-wingers screaming about all the lies now?!

[Bunny]

10. I think you are correct. I don't think a witness is allowed to plead

the Fifth in civil cases. But, IANAL, so perhaps someone will correct me.

[Recursion]

16. Yes and no

Your right not to be compelled to testify against yourself is absolute, in civil or criminal cases; it's just that in a civil case you're not criminally liable so there's a broader scope of what you can be compelled to talk about. But you still can't compel someone to say "I killed him" or whatever.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Paula Jones surely seemed to be able to compel anybody, at will.

[Me.]

3. Good Day, Eh, RP

When you think that the old Plame threads started in July 2004, this has been a long time coming.

[robertpaulsen]

9. Things are so good, they're GRRRREAT!

So great to see justice served.

[aquart]

4. Thank you! I'd forgotten about the civil suit.

Well, I've had a lot on my mind.

[Nite Owl]

6. Has their been any date set

for the start of the trial?

[robertpaulsen]

18. I don't believe an exact date has been set.

I think they are hoping to start sometime before 2008.

[Jacobin]

7. K and a Big R

[lovuian]

8. Awesome

:woohoo: Justice continues
Cheney will pay

[bear425]

12. From your post...

The Wilsons will continue to pursue the civil case against Vice President Cheney, Mr. Libby, Mr. Rove and Mr. Armitage because it hinges on additional and different facts from those underlying the criminal case.

Could these additional and different facts be the ones Prosecutor Fitzgerald mentioned he would need in order to pursue further investigation? I certainly hope so. While the Libby verdict is satisfying, it lacks justice for the initial perp.

edit: darned html

[robertpaulsen]

17. That might explain why Fitz said "inactive" rather than "closed".

The civil case may bring additional facts to light. Then again, facing a long prison stay, Libby may have some additional facts that he set aside for a rainy day.

[myrna minx]

14. K&R. Thanks to Ms. Paula Jones,

this is all possible. :applause: :rofl:

[Lasher]

19. Joe and Valerie coming up on KO in 10 minutes (8 PM EST)

This should be good.

I just listened to a rightwinger insist loud and long that Scooter had done nothing wrong. It's been going on all day. No lie to outrageous for those folks.

[terip64]

20. kick and recommend