Scotter Libby's trial has gone to the jury. The firedoglake crew has been in the courtroom for the trial. Their comments are interesting as to what happens next if Scooter is found guilty. Be sure and watch the videos. And stay tuned to firedoglake for the latest developments.

Big Close

The courtroom was packed today and the theatrics did not disappoint. Patrick Fitzgerald came right out and said that Shooter had his dirty fingerprints all over the crime. As Marcy noted in the liveblog: There is a cloud over the VP. He wrote those columns, he had those meetings, He sent Libby off to the meeting with Judy. Where Plame was discussed. That cloud remains because the defendant obstructed justice. That cloud was there. That cloud is something that we just can't pretend isn't there. I recognize that my view is probably somewhat biased in favor of the prosecution, but really I don't see how anyone could have watched the proceedings today and come away with the conclusion that the defense was anything other than a chaotic mess. Marcy and I agreed that Wells sounded like he was a used car salesman trying to fob off a junker he had no faith in, and for my part I'm guessing that much of the defense was crafted by Scooter Libby calling up in the middle of the night and helpfully saying, "make sure you say this tomorrow, Ted."

[more]

What’s It All About, Alfie?

There is a tendency in the blogosphere to camp out in the weeds when covering the CIA leak case, and we forget that most people's eyes glaze over when we start talking about what CIA briefer was copied on what memo on which day. With the close of the Libby trial, I'd like to step back and start trying to define what the important, overarching narratives to emerge from the case actually are: 1. The administration lied us into war and tried to abuse its power to punish the whistleblower who told the American public the truth. 2. Scooter is the firewall to Shooter. 3. Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby and other members of the administration conspired to keep federal investigators from uncovering their crimes.

[more]