Scoops are flying about how Bush and Cheney selectively authorized “Scooter” Libby to leak pieces of classified information to the press, in order to make their pre-war claims look good.
But Libby’s role was even more extensive than a leak here and a leak there. The court documents show Libby says Cheney made him de facto press secretary for the uranium issue — giving “on the record” statements, and talking on “background” (that means he doesn’t get named) to several reporters:
Defendant further testified that on July 12, 2003, he was specifically directed by the Vice President to speak to the press in place of Cathie Martin (then the communications person for the Vice President) regarding the NIE and Wilson.
Defendant was instructed to provide what was for him an extremely rare “on the record” statement, and to provide “background” and “deep background” statements, and to provide information contained in a document defendant understood to be the cable authored by Mr. Wilson.
For all of you Plamegate addicts, we’ve posted the entirety of Patrick Fitzgerald’s response here.
