Libby Prosecution Witness Grossman Makes Defense Case
 |
James Joyner | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 |
In cross-examination by Ted Wells, Marc Grossman, the first prosecution witness, explained the reason that neither he nor his boss Richard Armitage had read a high critical article by Nicholas Kristoff that sparked the chain of events of the Valerie Plame affair this way: “I had about a billion things to do” and “couldn’t be troubled” to find out what happened in the past because he was so occupied by Iraq and other issues.
That’s precisely the defense’s argument with respect to Libby.
Grossman has been a very good witness, though, in that he comes across as earnest, scrupulously honest, and a hard working civil servant that was “embarrassed” that he couldn’t immediately tell the vice president’s chief of staff some information well below his span of control. Indeed, he is very self-effacing about failings that are obvious only in hindsight.
I think Wells is making a mistake in being confrontational in questioning Grossman, who is clearly being honest and whose testimony is on very minor facts that were easily called into question early in the cross-x with no resistance from Grossman. Indeed, Grossman shows no signs of animosity to Libby or trying to do anything but rely events as he remembers them.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
Follow James on FriendFeed | Twitter | Digg
- None Found
- Berlin Wall Fall: 20 Years Later
- Oklahoma High Schoolers Are Very Familiar With George Washington, Thanks
- Was Fort Hood Massacre ‘Terrorism’?
- Making Jobs More Expensive
- House Trades Freedom for Health Coverage, Senate’s Move
- Hasan a Muslim First, American Second?
- OTB Caption JamTM
- Taking “No” As Iran’s Answer
- Update on the Fort Hood Massacre
- OTB Latenight – Soft Cell
- We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident linked with The Hindsight Factor
- World and Global Politics Blog linked with Libby Defense Team Losing Hearts and Minds?
James - how many days has the judge scheduled for trial?
It's scheduled 4-6 weeks with meetings only Monday through Thursday minus a federal holiday or two.
Thanks. Means I will likely miss the verdict, bummer.
Excellent reporting, James.
When you can, you might want to read this:
Maguire on Gregory
Just because Grossman wasn't obsessed with Wilson's wife, doesn't mean Libby wasn't. Or Cheney wasn't.
James, I'm really enjoying your coverage.
Isn't it Patrick Fitzgerald, not Peter Fitzgerald? Or are we referring to different people?
Just because Grossman wasn’t obsessed with Wilson’s wife, doesn’t mean Libby wasn’t. Or Cheney wasn’t.
Armitage was. To the point of leaking and gossiping about her to a bunch of reporters.
Of course Grossman busy pretending Wilson had never told him about his CIA connections.
Oh yeah. Everyone is lying 'cept ole Scooter ...
Comments are Closed
