Russert, light as a feather

Phil Gallagher

More than I. Lewis Libby is on trial in the Plamegate perjury trial. The reputations of a number supposedly important players on the national press scene have taken some serious hits. The biggest name in the press that has taken a fall over the past few days is the supposedly hard hitting host of Meet the Press, Tim Russert.

According to Mr. Russert, he never spoke to Libby about the status of Valerie Plame at the CIA. Also according to Russert, he had the vice president's chief of staff on the phone at a time that this was a huge national story and he never inquired about the subject at all. Nor did they discuss other issues of real importance. That's some really nice press work Tim. At least Miller and Cooper kept notes even though they were shoddy and in some cases unreadable.

Tim also informed the world that at the time his network was pontificating about the sanctity of a reporter and the need to protect his sources of privileged information, Russert was telling everything he knew about the subject to the FBI. Apparently he forgot to mention that tidbit in his affidavit to the court. This bit of information was of no interest to Matt Lauer of the Today Show who in a fawning interview with Russert the morning following his testimony helped re-polish Russert's image.

I happen to be listening to NPR on the way home and to hear them tell it, Russert was the nail in Libby's coffin as the announcer said in solemn tones that Russert had flatly denied that he had told Libby that Plame worked at the CIA. But Russert, much like the previous prosecution witnesses, Cooper, Miller and FBI agent Bond, had some severe memory lapses. As an example, Russert couldn't remember making two calls to a media outlet to complain about a derogatory story. When confronted with proof, Russert had to offer an apology. Nor could he recall parts of the Libby conversation except to say he was sure about Plame.

It would be interesting to hear the jury's take on the film introduced of Russert talking about the then impending Libby indictment as almost like "Christmas Eve". This bit of humor came out as defense attorney Wells embarrassed Russert on cross examination. So at this point the prosecution has rested its case with its star witness looking like a forgetful buffoon.

It will be interesting to see if the defense makes some sort of a motion to throw this pile of nonsense out of court. The prosecution has not presented one single irrefutable point relative to the five charges Libby faces. A reasonable judge in most places in the country would issue a directed verdict and end this farce. Washington however is a lot like Hollywood so perhaps the presiding judge has a case of Lance Ito disease. He might not want this spectacle to ever end.