01
Feb

Agent Bond: Libby Trial 2.1 Post 1

FBI agent Deborah Bond will be the government’s next witness when the Scooter Libby trial recommences later this morning. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald apparently plans to use the agent’s appearance on the stand in order to be able to introduce both written excerpts and audio from Libby’s grand jury testimony—testimony the prosecution contends is false, but the defense claims is due to a memory lapse.

It also appears likely that Tim Russert of NBC News will be Fitzgerald’s final witness in his attempt to prove that Libby is guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice. But before that, Fitzgerald seems intent on letting the jury – and the rest of us – hear how Libby himself described the affair before the grand jury.

Fitzgerald has already presented a parade of witnesses who have said they talked to Libby about Valerie Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson. CIA and State Department officials have said they told Libby about Plame, and others — including present and former White House officials and formerly prominent journalists Judith Miller and Matthew Cooper — testified that Libby spoke to them about Plame.

Although nearly every witness thus far has confessed to at least some memory lapse, the testimony thus far seems in at least some respects to have countered Libby’s claim he didn’t just couldn’t remember hearing about Plame and her hidden CIA identity until Russert allegedly told him about it. Russert denies that allegation.

Fitzgerald now wants jurors to hear Libby’s own words, through the device of Libby’s sworn statements before the grand jury that investigated the affair and concluded by indicting Libby on five felony counts. For their part, defense attorneys plan to have Libby take the stand and tell to the jury how and why he was able to forget about his many alleged conversations about Plame.

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