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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ex-Bush spokesman at Libby trial | Ex-Bush spokesman at Libby trial |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ex-White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has testified as a prosecution witness at the trial of former US vice presidential aide Lewis Libby. | Ex-White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has testified as a prosecution witness at the trial of former US vice presidential aide Lewis Libby. |
| Mr Fleischer said Mr Libby had told him over lunch that the wife of a prominent Iraq war critic worked at the CIA. | Mr Fleischer said Mr Libby had told him over lunch that the wife of a prominent Iraq war critic worked at the CIA. |
| He told the court their conversation had happened on 7 July 2003 - before Mr Libby says he learned about the agent. | |
| That discrepancy is at the heart of the perjury and obstruction trial of Mr Libby - who denies the charges. | That discrepancy is at the heart of the perjury and obstruction trial of Mr Libby - who denies the charges. |
| If found guilty Lewis "Scooter" Libby - who was Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff - could face up to 30 years in jail. | If found guilty Lewis "Scooter" Libby - who was Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff - could face up to 30 years in jail. |
| 'Hush hush' | 'Hush hush' |
| The trial in Washington scrutinises the conduct of the White House in the run-up to the Iraq war. | The trial in Washington scrutinises the conduct of the White House in the run-up to the Iraq war. |
| It has been alleged CIA operative Valerie Plame was "outed" in revenge for attack by her husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson, on President George W Bush's use of intelligence to justify the war. | It has been alleged CIA operative Valerie Plame was "outed" in revenge for attack by her husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson, on President George W Bush's use of intelligence to justify the war. |
| Lewis Libby is accused of perjury and obstruction of justice | Lewis Libby is accused of perjury and obstruction of justice |
| Revealing an agent's name is a serious offence in the US, though the case is not about who leaked her name, but the alleged cover-up. | Revealing an agent's name is a serious offence in the US, though the case is not about who leaked her name, but the alleged cover-up. |
| Mr Libby told FBI agents and a grand jury that he learned Ms Plame was a CIA agent from reporters. | Mr Libby told FBI agents and a grand jury that he learned Ms Plame was a CIA agent from reporters. |
| But during his testimony on Monday, Mr Fleischer - who was chief White House spokesman until mid-2003 - appeared to contradict this. | But during his testimony on Monday, Mr Fleischer - who was chief White House spokesman until mid-2003 - appeared to contradict this. |
| He said Mr Libby had invited him to lunch. The two discussed Mr Fleischer's planned departure from office and their shared interest in American football, the former press secretary added. | He said Mr Libby had invited him to lunch. The two discussed Mr Fleischer's planned departure from office and their shared interest in American football, the former press secretary added. |
| The conversation, he said, then turned to the growing criticism of the administration voiced by Mr Wilson. | The conversation, he said, then turned to the growing criticism of the administration voiced by Mr Wilson. |
| "Ambassador Wilson was sent by his wife," Mr Fleischer recalled Mr Libby saying. "His wife works for the CIA." | "Ambassador Wilson was sent by his wife," Mr Fleischer recalled Mr Libby saying. "His wife works for the CIA." |
| Mr Libby also named her as Valerie Plame and told him it was "hush hush", Mr Fleischer said. | Mr Libby also named her as Valerie Plame and told him it was "hush hush", Mr Fleischer said. |
| Credibility | Credibility |
| Mr Fleischer testified under an immunity deal with prosecutors, which correspondents say he sought because he subsequently discussed Ms Plame with reporters. | Mr Fleischer testified under an immunity deal with prosecutors, which correspondents say he sought because he subsequently discussed Ms Plame with reporters. |
| Defence lawyers were expected to argue that the deal makes Mr Fleischer's testimony less credible, as he might have been pressured into testifying against Mr Libby. | Defence lawyers were expected to argue that the deal makes Mr Fleischer's testimony less credible, as he might have been pressured into testifying against Mr Libby. |
| Last week other witnesses - including Mr Cheney's spokeswoman Cathie Martin - told the court Mr Libby had discussed Ms Plame before he had admitted doing so. | Last week other witnesses - including Mr Cheney's spokeswoman Cathie Martin - told the court Mr Libby had discussed Ms Plame before he had admitted doing so. |
| Mr Libby said he had not lied about the date he heard about Ms Plame's identity, but simply forgot previous conversations at a time when his priority was national security. | Mr Libby said he had not lied about the date he heard about Ms Plame's identity, but simply forgot previous conversations at a time when his priority was national security. |