Russert Resisted Testifying Against
Libby
Washington Post
By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 10, 2006; Page A05
Lawyers for NBC News reporter Tim Russert suspected in the spring of 2004
that his testimony could snare Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis
"Scooter" Libby, in a lie and Russert resisted testifying at the time about
private conversations with Libby, according to court papers released
yesterday.
Russert was aware that a special prosecutor probing the leak of a CIA
operative's name knew of his summer 2003 telephone conversation with Libby, and
that Libby had released him from any promise of confidentiality. But Russert,
the Washington bureau chief for NBC News and host of "Meet the Press," and his
attorneys argued in previously sealed court filings in June 2004 that he should
not have to tell a grand jury about that conversation, because it would harm
Russert's relationship with other sources.
On Woodward
Washington Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. discussed Bob Woodward's
revelation that he may have been the first reporter told of Valerie Plame's
identity as a CIA operative.
Background on the Plame Investigation
Russert ultimately testified under oath about the conversation after a
federal judge ordered him to do so in July 2004. The information Russert
provided became important evidence that Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald
used to indict Libby in October on five felony counts of lying to the FBI and a
grand jury, and of obstruction of justice.
Fitzgerald accused Libby of lying to investigators when he said he believed
he heard about Valerie Plame's CIA role from Russert in their July 2003
telephone conversation. Russert testified that they never discussed Plame.
U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan released the court papers involving
Russert yesterday. They were sought by the New York Times.
It "appears that Mr. Russert's testimony is sought solely because the
Special Prosecutor believes that his recollection of a telephone conversation
with an Executive Branch official is inconsistent with that official's
statements," they wrote.
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