The Honorable Judge Walton...
issued the right opinion in Libby's case: "Judge Walton issued a Memorandum Opinion (PDF) today regarding Fitzgerald’s prior motion on procedural issues surrounding CIPA and classified documents review.
To make a long legal wrangle short — Team Libby did not want Fitz to be able to send classified documents for ex parte review to the judge, they wanted Fitz to have to haggle every document out adversarily with regard to discovery issues. Fitz wanted everyone to follow the procedures as required by CIPA, which allows for such ex parte submissions where there is a question about the danger of national security by the dissemination of the information contained therein.
Fitz won.
Perhaps Judge Walton is just a bigger believer in the importance of protecting ALL the nation’s classified secrets than Scooter and his pals are. The laws being what they are and all — and the information being classified for very good reasons. You know, silly things like the names of people on the NOC list." [more from Christy]
posted by Patrick J. Fitzgerald at 5/04/2006
9 Comments:
Wow. The scope of this is incomprehensible. Congrats.
The drowning man struggles for air..
Kathleen
I think I saw Libby's lawyer driving around in a new Rolls Royce on K Street yesterday.
I remember Judge Walton's comments when he said he heard Bush giving classified information to explain his position. Nice move Fitz but Walton's comments sound like he knewn what he was going to rule. It's always feels good to know that the Judge that's hearing the case knows and follows the law. But remember Libby's lawyers have to do something for their money and show that they are at lease trying. Here's a bet: I think after the GJ indicts Rove Libby's attorney's will ask you for a plea agreement. Now when I win the bet I want you to take Randell to dinner a real dinner with veggies not hot dogs or pizza.
Angie "s comment on firedog lake is very fitting
"Fitz me to the moon"
Fith is over the moon with this one
GO Fitz! (I knew you would)
Fitz..
Jackie I bet you are so right...
Yes, Judge Walton wants to protect classified information. Walton has seen beforehand how the Gerbil abused and violated National Security by releasing classified information. Walton is following the law unlike the Gerbil and company. Again, this is a tic for tac from the little soldier to undermine Fitz. If I was the little soldier, which I am not, I would really keep my eyes and ears open to the possible indictment of Porkrind because the Gerbil and company will not get the little soldier out of this mess. The Gerbil will have to choose between Porkrind the architect or the little soldier. And my nickel is on Porkrind!!!
Judge Walton seems like a very fair Judge and isn't swayed by the corrupt thugs!
Folks,
In Hookgate headlines:
From Thinkprogress:
"THE RINGLEADER: At the center of the storm is California defense contractor Brent Wilkes -- aka "Co-Conspirator #1" in government documents -- "who gave more than $630,000 in cash and favors" to Cunningham "for help in landing millions of dollars in federal contracts." Wilkes devoted much of his 20-year career to "developing political contacts in Washington," a task at which he excelled, serving recently both as a county finance co-chairman of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R-CA) campaign and as the state finance co-chairman for President Bush. "Wilkes, his family members and his employees were heavy campaign contributors to several members of Congress," and he frequently invited members -- including Cunningham, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) -- on chartered corporate jets. The efforts paid off handsomely: "Wilkes won tens of millions of dollars worth of defense contracts for his companies through the process of closed-door congressional earmarking of the federal budget." Indeed, "many of the contracts Wilkes secured" were for projects the Pentagon never even requested. Wilkes has thus far avoided any criminal charges, but federal officials are investigating instances of quid pro quo, since the "timing of Wilkes' many political donations closely parallels the approval of earmarks for Wilkes' companies."
More names come out. Now, the Gropinator of Kalifornia???
From Thinkprogress:
CIA DIRECTOR GOSS TIED TO SCANDAL?
"But the alleged links between Goss, Foggo, and Wilkes have led some to return to questions raised when Goss initially selected Foggo to be executive director in November 2004. At the time, the decision was viewed with skepticism since Foggo's previous position was as a "midlevel procurement supervisor," and because following his unexpected selection, "Porter Goss lieutenant Patrick Murray went to then-Associate Deputy Director of Operations for Counterintelligence Mary Margaret Graham and informed her that if anything leaked about other Goss appointments -- in particular, Foggo's -- she would be held responsible." Project on Government Oversight fellow Jason Vest reported last week that much of Foggo's counterintelligence file "has to do with various social encounters over the years, none of which he’s been deceptive about when polygraphed, and all of which have been deemed to be of no threat to operational security -- but are still the types of things that could be embarrassing for Goss and the Agency." Vest suggests the latest reports raise important questions about the "relationship between Foggo and Wilkes, and the relationship of each with Goss."
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