Bill Jeffress asserts (PDF) that letters written to Judge Walton in support of Scooter Libby should not be made public because bloggers will "mock" the authors, but Jeralyn makes a very good point:
Team Libby does not argue the publication of the letters is prejudicial to Libby. Do they even have standing to contest the release of the letters to the media (which includes bloggers in this case) based on privacy rights of those not their clients....or on behalf of future defendants who likewise are not their clients? I don't think so.
Fitzgerald (PDF) mentions that these letters have been written by "former and current public officials." As Marcy says:
We, the public, do have a very big interest in seeing the letters and knowing who wrote them. Libby has managed to hide most of the names of the people who are paying for his defense. Since he has, by all accounts, served as the perfect firewall, we deserve to know whether those directly benefiting from Libby's lies are footing the bill to defend him. While Judge Walton may not be able to change the laws surrounding disclosure of legal defense funds, I hope he understands that seeing these letters allow us to see precisely who is behind Libby's defense.
The Libby Defense Fund has never been forthcoming about who their contributors were and journalists never really bothered to ask. During the trial it became evident that Wells and Jeffress were not going to defend their client by implicating Dick Cheney or George Bush, and thus questions were raised (though never answered) about who, exactly, they were being paid to defend. Nonethelelss, Jeralyn is right -- Jefress can't really assert the privacy rights of individuals he doesn't techincally represent.
It seems as if Jefress became momentarily confused about the identities of his official and unofficial clients. I guess in the end the kabuki just got too tough to sustain.
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Fitz! Marcy! Jane! Jane! Jane!
I’d be interested to know if/ how letters in support of a semi-similar defendent have been published in the past. And what about the negative letters? Anti- published, pro- not?
Have invitations to Scooter’s pardon party at the Bush Brush Ranch been mailed yet?
Ditto Monica Goodling’s defense.
IANAL. Legally speaking…Do you only think that the letters should be released because Libby is a public figure? Because, I once was asked to write one in support of a teenager who had managed to get himself in some serious trouble. Frankly, I would have been uncomfortable if they had been published in my local newspaper. And, believe me, I’m from a small town, there would have been interest.
It is Comstockian in its complexity and toxicity.
I recall the Ken Lay letters being released. Why should Americans not see who has things to say about Irve, and what those things are?
TSF- both pro and con on Ken Lay?
Thanks Jane! Love that photograph of Fitz - bet he is even more beguiling in person - am soooooo glad you and Marcy and egregious (and Pach?) not only met him but were on scene for the trial…. a bit jealous but really truly happy you did.
Valley Girl @ 3
The Bob Ney letters were released.
I had to laugh when I read Jeffress’s brief the other night. At the top of Page 7, he asserts that he’s just looking out for the privacy of ALL writers, including those who have written in opposition to Libby as well as the supporters. Trying to save them from having to face the outrageous questions that the corporate owned media would be asking…
Anybody wanna buy a bridge?
Libby covered for traitors. Not even Hitler outed his own intel officers.
They don’t want to answer questions, be interviewed in front of real audiences, and keep their records & their very public lives private. I say screw Libby.
The Caste System is alive and well in the USA.
Wow, good point. Could that be seen as a breach of legal ethics?
So, if approved, letters from FDLers would be published too? I didn’t write one but everyone okay with that?
I want to see the letters, but I also would like to see who donated to the defense fund and how much they contributed.
A letter on record to a judge over the results of a public trial/verdict should never be considered private. People should have a right to know who and what others say to a judge.
I very much desire to be made aware of whence comes the fiduciary origins of Libby mouthpiece money. Let the sunshine in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzYibC1P7UQ
Eureka Springs @ 17
I agree. If the judge wil read the letters and use them to determine sentencing, then it should be open to the public.
a question - do these letters actually influence judicial decisions? and if so - why?
I wrote one, solai, and it’s fine with me if it’s published.
I see this quite differently than your teenager situation. I doubt he/she had a legal defense fund, and we know he/she is not a public figure in the very highest level of the American government.
Jane, thanks for the link.
I remember that post, but forgot the part about Ney, and didn’t follow the links at the time.
Article here summarizes some of the letters here
Still interested to know how the letters are actually published. EW still visiting you?
I don’t know the law here, but it seems to me that if a judge were to take into account information provided in private letters in deciding whether Libby would serve 3 months or 30 months, the basis of his decision would need to be a matter of public record — and available for review on appeal. I don’t understand how a defendant’s freedom can be decided on the basis of secret evidence. That overcomes, it seems to me, the argument that if we allow outside letters to influence the decision, we should keep them secret to avoid discouraging people from providing that information.
In a case where someone lied to protect someone else, “legal defense fund” can be a euphemism for “hush money.” Isn’t it the job of the court to find out if that applies here?
I can see an argument made to protect John and Jane Doe citizen from disclosure of letters to any Court.
But abso-forking-lutely no way should this Jane Doe be denied from knowing what letters were written by current and former public officials in this case. A case involving the highest levels of our government.
Wow, good point. Could that be seen as a breach of legal ethics?
Oh yeah. Big Time.
(pun originally unintended, but if the shoe fits…).
Loo Hoo. @ 16
I wrote Judge Walton a letter on my best blue Crane stationary and would not object at all if the pro and con letters were made public. In fact I would be proud as a peacock if they became public record.
Suzanne, we’re spending too much time together! See my comment at 21.
solai @ 6
I can understand you point. This is two sided issue. However, since Libby is a public figure, this adds another element to the mix. I would be very interested to know and read these letters, in particular, if any members of the press wrote on his behalf; Judy Miller, Matt Cooper, Woodward, Russert, etc. And, let’s not forget, Fred Thompson was istrumental in Libby’s defense fund. I wonder what these people think about the rule of law and respecting a verdict?
It is in the interest of justice that the letters be released
1) Walton just got appointed to the FISA bench. Because we know that public officials have written letters for Libby, failing to release the letters creates a potential appearance of conflict of interest on Walton’s part.
2) Libby’s defenders have played fast and loose with the facts in public statements — the odds are even greater that they would do so in “sentencing” letters. We cannot expect either Walton or the probation officer to be cognizant of Libby’s full public record; only by releasing the letters prior to sentencing can Walton know what is true, what is distorted, and what is false in those letters.
3) If those letters do play a role in the sentence handed down to Libby, the interests of justice can only be served by their publication.
solai @ 15
I sure as hell am. Does anyone have Walton’s email address?
Loo Hoo. @ 21
And s/he was presumably a minor.
xargaw @ 29
IOKIYAR.
Loo Hoo. @ 21
I don’t know where I stand on this. Must give it more thought. I know we deserve to know which public figures are supporting Libby. But I did not know that letters to judges on matters like this are open to publication. Just not sure yet.
What does IOKIYAR stand for, dakine?
Loo Hoo. @ 35
It’s ok if you are republican
Loo Hoo. @ 35
It’s OK if you’re a Republican
LS @ 36
NO IT’S NOT!!!
Loo Hoo. @ 38
heh…
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this issue. But I would say this: either release them all, or release none.
Letters from public officials should be treated no differently than those coming from the private sector. I am engaging in pre-2000 thinking here. Public service should be encouraged, and a person’s entrance into it should not be used against them. We need good public servants.
The fact that we don’t have them today, and that there is every reason to assume nefarious actvity from the gang presently in charge, shouldn’t be used to set precedent against those who follow, who we so very much hope to be honorable.
One of members of Libby’s defense fund also serves on the Board of Trustees of the local PBS station, you know, the same one that produces the NewsHour and Washington Week.
Yes, but Jayt, he’s a convicted criminal, not just some public servant doing the best he can to make the lives of others better. He helped concoct a war, for heaven’s sake, as you well know.
What’s new with our favorite recruiter?
Did Wells have a fool for a client? Or did Libby have a fool for a lawyer? I mean this guy is going to prison.
I don’t care as much about the letters nearly as much as I do about the money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hCRf9Gzw8
jane,
right now, i’m suffering the toxic effects of kabuki overload. thank you for cutting through the bs…. your writing is theraputic!
I’ve been off googling trying to figure out where the actual text of the letters was published for the Ney case. No luck so far. All I can find are news articles that quote the comments, but w/o name attribution.
I think I need some lawyerly help.
Alice @ 41
Ironic you mentioned this for I have the NewsHour on and was just thinking how downhill the once iconic program has devolved since Bush stole the election.
ReElect President Al Gore in 2008. Accept no substitute!
Now that’s rich. In Jeffress’ letter to Judge Walton, he sites Gotti!
newspaperbrat @ 9
What do you think: Kevin Costner in a made-for-TV movie? Just a random thought.
newspaperbrat, you said a mouthfull. My late parents were charter members of WETA. Elizabeth Campbell was one of my childhood heros.
It is a disgrace what Sharon Percy Rockefeller has let that station become.
It’s pretty rich talking about privacy rights at this stage. Then again, legally enforced secrecy of CIA operatives isn’t a privacy issue per say. I’m glad Fitz is onto this stool and mentioned it. Now there is no way the judge can make the silly ruling in their favor.
Wolfowitz blames media for resignation
‘It tells us more about the media than about the bank,’ he says
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
where libby’s goin, it aint that bad…
ask ivan boesky, or mike milliken
jack abramoff’s doin’ easy time, bob ney too…
they don’t hafta worry abou gettin shanked…
.
Loo Hoo. @ 42
Yes, but Jayt, he’s a convicted criminal, not just some public servant doing the best he can to make the lives of others better. He helped concoct a war, for heaven’s sake, as you well know.
What’s new with our favorite recruiter?
I was talking about public servants who sent letters to the judge, not Libby himself.
And (thanks for asking) the recruiter has been let go by the Indiana National Guard, and fired by the firm he was moonlight recruiting for.
Son is still staying up all night, every night, scared to death that someone’s coming for him. Unfortunately, I left the decision as to w/n to press charges up to him, and I don’t think that he did.
This is interesting:
Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Censured for Seeking Leniency
for Convicted Mobster
An MCC complaint to the Judiciary Commission lead to the public censure of Criminal District Court Judge Frank Marullo. When reputed mobster Anthony Carollo was convicted of racketeering, Judge Marullo wrote a letter seeking leniency from the judge sentencing Mr. Carollo. The MCC learned of Judge Marullo’s request and filed a complaint with the Louisiana Judiciary Commission. The Judiciary Commission found Judge Marullo in violation of Supreme Court rules and publicly censured him for his misconduct.
found here.
Jeffress is just trying to hide all those letters of support for Libby sent from overseas.
You know, the letters from Osama bin Laden and his countless Number Two lieutenants thanking Libby (and his co-conspirators) for outing a covert CIA officer charged with trying to keep nukes and other WMD out of their hands.
You know, letters thanking Libby for blocking Fitzgerald’s investigation into which traitorous White House officials committed the treasonous act of disclosing Valerie Plame-Wilson’s highly classified secret identity to the world.
You know, Libby helping to hide the people in the White House who keep doing things (like starting a war in Iraq and keeping our troops in Iraq) that plays into the hands of the terrorists.
No wonder Jeffress doesn’t want these letters released.
The Oracle @ 55
I stand agape - do so wish you wrote editorials for the pathetic Washington Post and/or NYT.
okay, then. Looks like the Ney letters are only available online (if they are) to those who can access PACER. I can’t. IANAL.
But, if someone who is AL could check out those letters, it would be interesting to know if they are in original state, or names redacted, etc.
Jeez, where are all the lawyers today?
ccmask, your link doesn’t work (at least for me) at 54.
Valley Girl @ 57
Thanks for searching, Valley Girl.
Loo Hoo. @ 58
see my edited comment above ;)
I’d be willing to bet my next paycheck that more than one of those people lied to the judge in an attempt to benefit Scooter.
Good afternoon from L.A.
An excellent post, JH, for this Memorial Day p.m. About to start backtracking FDL posts & comments from the last couple vacation days (just got back from camping upstate).
The photo of Patrick Fitzgerald giving a speech in the link below is an interesting one. The audio files that go w/it also:
Fitzgerald Amherst Commencement Speech, Q&A
Loo Hoo. @ 58
Try this one…
Well, Jeffress may have momentarily taken leave of his senses, but not to the same extent as this guy.
Thanks for the update on the Libby sentencing!
Let me take this opportunity to encourage everyone to visit Priming the Pump, which has been updated with more articles of impeachment, including an Article of Impeachment against Cheney for the leak of Valerie Plame’s identity. This is a workspace — a work in progress. If you can help, please lend a hand!
Bob in HI
Flamethrower @ 61
Why not! After all that’s exactly what Scooter did for them…
Flamethrower @ 61
I would bet that you would win that bet Flamethrower! Just left a message for my lawyer friend - who I hope subscribes to Pacer - in the happy event he would search to see if the letters are available.
Jane Jane Jane, haven’t your proposed to Fitz yet?
(This post is made without the slightest intent of snark and in the interest of the most innocent sort of fun)
Valley Girl @ 57
Whoever reads them, tell me if I wrote one, will you? I remember getting an email urging me to write one, but don’t really remember if I did or not.
Howie Klein has a very moving Memorial Day post up at DWT. Oh, and he mentions Cheney and Impeachment.
post here
rapier @ 68
He’s mine, mine, I say
Margot- and this place is usually crawling with lawyers! ;)
ianal, but i am guessing this is a technical question with a tehcnical answer
a — letters such as these *are* typically released and part of the public record
b — letters such as these *are not* typically released and part of the public record
from atrios:
my bold.
Valley Girl–I know!
No fair taking a holiday.
selise @ 74
what Atrios said
OT- Before I go off to play catch up & read 2 days worth of FDL, here is another Memorial Day tribute to our troops, an article from Col. W. Patrick Lang, ret:
Dear Hearts Across the Seas
All letters should be public. Writers not wishing their names published with the letter should be allowed to write anonymously. In that case, though, the sentencing judge shouldn’t get to know the author’s identity either, which means a letter from an anonymous FDL reader gets the same weight as an anonymous letter from Barbara Comstock. As a slight measure of astroturfing/spamming prevention it could be set up like newspaper LTTE’s, where you have to send your name/address/phone number. Some court clerk calls you to verify the letter, then separates the identifying info from it before handing it off to the judge.
“No End in Sight” is a documentary on the Iraq war coming out in August. It is highly recommended:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/.....more-17781
ccmask @ 13
Hey ccmask, I agree with you 100% … the truth is that the caste system exists in all societies, even the so- called communist and socialist ones. What is appalling, is the extent to which this administration has leveraged its power to suit its own interests and those of their friends … reminds me of France just before the revolution.
I hope all of you will redouble your efforts to restore democracy to America through peaceful, honest means. Those who put their lives on the line to defend us, deserve no less.
solai @ 15
I didn’t specifically identify myself as a FirePup, but I’d be more than happy for my snail-mail to be made public. I’m proud of what I said in favor of Truth, Justice and the American Way.
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‘PupMap (625 pins!), Chat, Calendar, Timeline (Click here or on my .SIG above)
none @ 78
I like it!
Marie Roget @ 77
I take no responsibility, if my “Little Johnny” joke on Pach’s Saturday night post makes you spew all over your computer.
Alice @ 41,
Good post at your blog.
In addition to calling/writing to the station,
I suggest that you visit the WETA station in Alexandria (I think you are local) with prior appt and ask to inspect the community file.
(All TV stations have to maintain a community/public file that is open to public. At the TV license renewal time, FCC actually looks at the file.) Inspect the public file and ask to insert your complaint. And then let others know. Hopefully, some more locals (I for one) will do the same to build up the file re board members’ conflict of interest.
I’ll have to get user status ‘priming the pump’ in a minute. Till then, I found McKinney’s already primed the pump quite a bit. I just happen to be looking around to see if I could find them earlier today.
I think a current member can brush them off a bit. They read truer and truer each day passing. She even includes ‘violating oath’ which I would; and NSA spying w/o warrant FISA violations, which I would too.
http://www.democrats.com/McKin.....mpeachment
Also, SOS, you know BBN is up for an NSF project?
http://arstechnica.com/news.ar.....twork.html
Peace
We are all mockers now.
One has to wonder whether there was any implicit consequence of not falling on his sword, as it were. As in, “if you don’t clam up, your defense fund is likely to dry up.”
Badwater @ 4
One really has to wonder why our Justice system goes through such a long and involved process just too have a criminal pardoned? Is this process a waste of taxpayers money?
Alice @ 41
There’s that damn liberal media again. The same liberal media that tarnished the reputation of Wolfy of World Bank.
Utterly amazing that the media that dutifully delivers their carefully dictated, word-for-word propaganda for them is constantly berated by them as librul commies.
Tis a very clever game.
ww @ 87
And/or worse: “You don’t really want us to release the photographs and survielance tapes your family will have to endure now do you Scooter?”
Marie Roget @ 62
How was it up near Lompoc?
[I am 4 days from Alaska…]
newspaperbrat @ 89
Jeff Gannon is a top.
One of the arguments for not making the letters public was that it would discourage future letter writers of supporting someone in writing.
Why would you go to the trouble of writing gushing letters of praise for someone that you truly believed was a good person and deserved the lightest possible sentence, and be concerned about who found out? You either believe in them, or you don’t(OR YOUR LYING!).
To me it is really the same argument that Cheney used to prop up his justification of his double super-secret energy task force meetings(if they are not secret, people will not be candid!)
I hope that the courts do not fall for it twice.
Alice @ 76
Contributors to the Libby defense fund are Connected at their r$$ts…
Here’s to Walton busting up their root system a bit!
RSA @ 48
No good. He played Jim Garrison in JFK.
StCroixBoy @ 93
Yes - I don’t get it. If Scooter’s such a good guy, why wouldn’t you be proud to put your name in ink to a letter in support of him, and then say, proudly afterwards, yeah, I did that.
And I don’t think it doesn’t matter who you’re supporting, although in the case of the tenager, I’d think that protecting his/her identity would count for something if you were in the juvenile system. Otherwise, there’s a reason court proceedings are public - it’s to give the system transparency. (I know, Bushies can only count four letters in that one.)
Otherwise, if you don’t want people to read it, don’t write it.
Jeez.
Blank Kludge @ 84
http://arstechnica.com/news.ar.....twork.html
Yep, B.K. Cool. Us ex-BBNers have our own Google Group & we keep up with doin’s back @ the old stand. Tnx! :)
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‘PupMap (625 pins!), Chat, Calendar, Timeline (Click here or on my .SIG above)
evenin’ Firedogs
RSA -
you must have missed the casting threads -
Liev Schreiber is Fitz
Jeff Bridges is Ambassador Wilson
Naomi Watts is Ms. Plame
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is Rove
Richard Dreyfuss is Cheney
Judy Davis is Queen of All Eye-Rack
Kevin Spacey is Irving
Jeffrey Wright is Ted Give Scooter Back To Me ! Wells
John C. Reilly is the Whore Russert
Stockard Channing is Comstock
Linda Fiorentino is Mrs. Scooter
Signorney Weaver is Matalin
Holly Hunter is Marcy
Emma Thompson is Christy
Kate Blanchett is Jane :)
have your people IM my people
oh and p.s. I wrote a letter to Judge Walton - puhleeze make it public !
Good point, StCroixBoy. If you’re embarrassed about having written a letter, perhaps you shouldn’t have written it!
If letters of support for a crooked Congressman like Ney get published, I do not see how the letters of support for Scooter get withheld.
A 6-degrees-of-Scooter-Libby corruption database should be a snap for the blogosphere to assemble once the names come out.
Let the sun shine in.
newspaperbrat @ 39
Comey is way o.k. in my book. Have you ever read Kevin Phillips book “The American Dynasty” Phillips is/was a Republican! The “real” Republicans are freaked out by the radically wrong Bush administration.
I guess in the end the kabuki just got too tough to sustain…
I’ve never used the term kabuki for the weirdness of DC political machinations, but see it used a lot on the web. Neither wikipedia nor urban dictionary even defines political kabuki, let alone attempts an etymology. Anyone here know where the term comes from?
For all the legal eagles here at FDL….
Have any of you read the new presidential order signed on May 7th or 9th yet? If so what are the implications for America as a country? If not here it is National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive.
Than please let me know if anyone really thinks that Bush will ever step down.
new post right next door
kathleen @ 101
Hmmm…but which are the “real” Republicans - the ones like Phillips who are freaked out by Bush, or the Bush/Robertson wing of the GOP that controls its destiny?
albert fall @ 100
You mean like this?
Here’s a great story that ought to make the dems wish they had voted differently on the Iraq supplemental from today’s NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05.....ref=slogin
I keep hoping that the dems know something we don’t, and voted the way they did for a good reason. Possible?
Sent a letter to the judge asking for the death penalty- hope it’s not released.
FYI, new thread
cbl @ 98
Danny Devito for Cheney.
Cloris Leachman for Mary Matalin.
Michael Jackson for Mrs. Libby.
Valley Girl @ 72
Well, ya know, that’s what lawyers do….
:-)
(running for cover)
What does KABUKI stand for?