MSNBC is reporting it on their main page, but no story link just yet. There’s also a blurb about it on CNN’s main page has well:
A verdict has been reached in the CIA leak trial of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. The verdict is expected to be read in the courtroom at 12 p.m. ET.
More: Here’s a story from the AP:
WASHINGTON - The court has been alerted the panel of seven women and four men has reached a verdict in the perjury and obstruction trial of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Cheney.
All those involved will return to the court in approximately 15 minutes.
It’s expected Judge Reggie Walton will do the actual reading of the verdict.
I’ve got to dash off to a late meeting but I’ll be back when I can to blog more about this. Make sure to check Memeorandum as well as I’m sure the links will be piling up there with news and reax (pLamegate blogger Tom Maguire will likely share his .02 as well).
*Check this link for updates on the story - Libby has been found guilty on 4 of 5 counts (1,2,4,5)*
Update I: More running commentary via Hot Air and Malkin’s blog.
Update II: Am now finally able to comment on the story. Obviously, it’s bad news for Libby, but his lawyers -of course- are promising an appeal. What will this mean for the WH? More intense scrutiny on Cheney, who some have been saying played a more significant role in this than Rove. The bad news for the Nutroots is that Fitzgerald says he has no plans to file any more charges as it relates to this case. The ‘roots will have to milk this one for all it’s worth, since the guy they were really aiming for is off the hook.
Also, Tom Maguire has weighed in with his initial thoughts on the verdicts.
Update III: Check out NRO’s coverage of today’s Libby trial news here.
Update IV: NRO has posted an editorial asking Bush to pardon Libby. I concur (assuming, of course, that he doesn’t win his appeal).
Tom Maguire has written more observations about what happened today here and here - and coins a new term in the process: Fizzlemas.
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Joe Wilson should be found guilty of lieing to everyone about who sent him to Niger. Instead he gets a book deal, and Libby, who did absolutely nothing is on trial for over a year at the taxpayers expense.
Comment by G-Monster @ 3/6/2007 - 11:41 am
G-Monster, lets not forget that you get a movie made about you also…..
Comment by sanity @ 3/6/2007 - 12:32 pm
Two words, Sis:
Toldja so.
Watch the spin begin, folks…
Oh, and…
Goodbye. Dick.
Comment by Lou Cypher @ 3/6/2007 - 12:52 pm
Before I go back to work(another shock coming from the left
While I’m happy Libby got convicted He should do as much jail time as Sandy Berger. Which is none. I do not like scapegoating one person in this decision. Personally I think he’ll wind up with Martha Stewart time in Club Fed unless 43 pardons him which in all honesty wouldn’t cause the sky to fall. The good news is that his boss just got a blood clot……………………..VP Cheney I only have one thing to say to that man know what it is?……Ain’t karma a b*tch
Comment by tommy in nyc @ 3/6/2007 - 1:13 pm
Your “toldjah so” would only be correct if we were talking about Karl Rove being found guilty, Lou, because you and I know that was what you guys wanted all along: Rove’s head on a platter.
You didn’t get it, so now you’ve had to settle for second best. And actually third best, because this wasn’t a conviction on any count of “outing a covert agent” or whatever the legal term was -something YOU and others “KNEW” Rove, etc, had done. No dice. Sucks for you, doesn’t it?
Furthermore, Fitzgerald said he has ‘no plans’ to pursue any further charges in this case, which means that he’s done with Rove - period.
Guess you’ll have to figure out another way to “get Rove” because it sure won’t be on this case.
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 3/6/2007 - 1:16 pm
Hell the jury is even saying they wish it was Rove, this is wrong and Libby should get another trial or a Bush pardon. I know you Lefties want Rove, but convicting another man cause you can’t get Rove is just wrong.
Comment by djohn66 @ 3/6/2007 - 1:20 pm
It’s funny. Sandy Berger was caught redhanded stealing documents, Joseph Wilson was caught lieing about who sent him to Niger, and this Libby guy, who did nothing is the one who gets convicted. I’m glad I don’t have any kids to try and explain this to.
Comment by G-Monster @ 3/6/2007 - 1:25 pm
Sure- this isn’t over. There will be an appeal, drug out as long as possible. He may be found guilty again on the appeal, but it’s irrelevant.
He’ll be in the 11th hour pardons, just like Clinton did. And there will be nothing done about the so called “outing”.
And that has been my prediction all along.
Comment by TedintheShed @ 3/6/2007 - 2:51 pm
Was there an outing? And isn’t Joe Wilson more guilty of outing his wife than Scooter Libby. In fact my understanding is the trial of scooter libby is not about an outing, but about conflicting statements between Tim Russert and Scooter Libby. Kind of a he said, he said.
Comment by G-Monster @ 3/6/2007 - 4:01 pm
The talkative guy on the jury was a Washington DC reporter who wrote a book called “SPYING: The Secret History of History” containing biographies of legendary spies. Were those lawyers absent the day they taught jury selection?
Comment by vatar @ 3/6/2007 - 5:43 pm
And the same guy used to share an office with Russert, the prosecution’s star witness? Hmm.
Comment by vatar @ 3/6/2007 - 7:18 pm
Vatar if that is true, then that should be a mis-trail. The Jurors are suppose to be impartial. A friendly aquaintance with a witness should nullify that juror. This truly is a sad state of affairs. I am still wondering why Richard Armatage isn’t being tried. It makes no sense at all.
Also, didn’t the jury just this morning ask the judge for clarification on how the charges fit the evidence?? Then 3 hours later, they come back with guilty on 4 out of 5 charges. That doesn’t add up either. I have to wonder what that judge said in his reponse to the question.
So much of this only adds up to a vendetta driven agenda. I hope and pray that the American people won’t turn a blind eye to this sort of travesty come Nov 2008. It is going to be a damn long 20 months. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 3/6/2007 - 8:03 pm
There’s nothing to hang on Rove or Cheney, left wing dudes. Sorry to pee on your Fitzmas, but Libby was not convicted for “outing” an already out CIA employee - it was Armitage at State who did that.
But since what actually happened (i.e, “truth”) is never important in constructing lefty fantasies, don’t worry your little heads. Go back to your assassination wet dreams and your concentration camps for Republicans and the rest of your dogma. Dream of plastic turkeys and lies about yellowcake (uh, no, of course not about the real ones Wilson told, about the mythical ones Bush didn’t tell). And please, please remember to support the troops as you spit on them - after all, in a couple decades you’ll claim that never happened, too.
Wrap yourselves in your cozy internal realities, since they’re much more comfortable than real reality, plus you can control them and replay them endlessly.
Comment by Steve Skubinna @ 3/6/2007 - 10:14 pm
1. Sandy Berger should have done some time, but I don’t see that there’s any connection between that and the Libby case. Apples and pomegranites, y’see.
2. Scooter shouldn’t have to do time, and probably won’t.
3. Dick (Uncle Fester) Cheney ought to resign, for many reasons, but probably won’t.
4. Tell me the “number” of Talkative Guy on the Jury and then we can discuss why he was picked. If he was Juror no. 10 or 11 or 12, he probably got on because the D ran out of peremptory challenges. If he’s a low number, I can’t imagine why he was allowed on.
5. And finally, a shout out to the commentator who writes of “assassination wet dreams” and the like. Good writing style, Dude! T’was a pleasure to read your comments.
Comment by Leslie @ 3/7/2007 - 10:42 am
Leslie, it is without a doubt that Berger should have done MAJOR prison time, he was let off with a slap on he wrist. Comparing the two, theft and destruction and lying about classified governmental documents…and alleged differences in conversations that was decided that libby was lying about a crime that was not a crime (see Armitage was leaker - armitage not being charged).
So you have a person, libby, who is convicted of lying and obstructing an investigation that was already known who leaked MONTHS before they questioned libby.
Libby was convicted for lying and obstruction on something that they won’t even charge the real leaker with a crime (Armitage).
Pamela over at Atlas Shrugs has a great break down:
Read the rest of it HERE
She does make excellent points.
Meanwhile the Captain at Captain’s Quarters has a post about a contest being held on when Libby will be Pardoned by President Bush HERE.
If ever a pardon was justified would be here, not like Marc Rich that Clinton did.
Comment by sanity @ 3/7/2007 - 11:43 am
If lying to a Grand Jury is a crime, then why isn’t Bill Clinton doing time?? - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 3/7/2007 - 1:03 pm
Dennis Prager asked his attorney guest, “Why did Armitage leak the Valarie Plame identity?”.
Guest said, “Beats me. He hasn’t said.”
Yet, the press keeps inserting that the administration did because they were seeking revenge or doing harm to war critics which Armitage was a war critic himself….
Comment by Baklava @ 3/7/2007 - 1:13 pm
–Denis Collins, Libby juror
Comment by vatar @ 3/7/2007 - 1:25 pm
OMG - where did you find that, vatar?
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 3/7/2007 - 1:28 pm
LINK but don’t tell anyone I went there.
Comment by vatar @ 3/7/2007 - 2:00 pm
I should have highlighted the “recently published novel to pimp” too. No agenda there I’m sure.
Comment by vatar @ 3/7/2007 - 2:23 pm