30
Jan
Libby Trial 1.30 Post 3
Defense notes that Libby was interviewed by FBI on October 14 and then again November 26, 2003.
Defense intends to review every document introduced by the prosecution as having been reviewed by Addington.
One document dated 11.7.03 is a certification by Libby that he had produced all relevant documents for review.
Another is a letter from Swartz of Justice. It asks for documents relating to the articles by Novak and Phelps and unauthorized disclosure of classified information. This is three weeks after Libby’s last FBI interview.
Next is a succession of grand jury subpoenas to Addington and others asking for specific documents. It appears that none of these documents were provided to Libby.
After a brief recess, back to the documents. Question asked about govt exhibit 65 to identify instructions about the “document provision process” initiat3ed by Addington. A memo from Addington with instructions on how to search emails… Next a memo from Addington to the assistant to the VP for operations with instructions as to collecting missing telephone records, etc and so forth. (Check Marcy’s reporting at firedoglake if you are interested in the many details.)
Was Addington aware that at the end of Libby’s final interview with the FBI in November, Libby was given a form by the FBI, which he signed, waiving confidentiality about his contacts with reporters in the matter? He was.
Then an email from Addington to Libby, explaining to Libby that his work for the Vice President made his records vice-presidential records, even though he nominally worked for the White House office.
More minutiae, it appears. One hopes the line of defense questioning will become clear at some point soon.
Meanwhile, one thing is clear: Addington is a master of the bureaucratic process, and this is probably one of the keys to his success in attaining and exercising great power. Another may be his disregard for dealing with members of the press in almost any way – unlike many of his peers within the Bush Administration, to their apparent detriment!
The more recent documents appear to have a different wording about what the investigation is looking for than the earlier one. Apparently this occurred because the FBI and/or Justice department lawyers had incorporated the new language in their documents to Addington, and he had then used some of it in his documents to WH staff employees when looking for their records to review.
No further questions for now, and recess for lunch until 1:30.

















