Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Libby Needs Media Records to Prove Innocence, His Lawyers Say

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune ...

"Lawyers for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby urged a federal judge Monday to force several media organizations to turn over e-mails, drafts of news articles and reporters' notes they say the former top White House aide needs to receive a fair trial in the CIA leak case.

In a 45-page filing, Libby's lawyers said reporters have "no right — under the Constitution or the common law — to deprive Mr. Libby of evidence that will help establish his innocence at trial."

Libby, 55, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to the FBI and a federal grand jury about how he learned about CIA operative Valerie Plame and what he subsequently told reporters about her.

The key to Libby's defense is whose memory is correct — Libby's or three reporters who talked with him in June and July 2003. ..."

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