Juror Dismissed in Libby Trial
Matthew Sheffield
Stay tuned, word of possible juror tainting.
Live blow-by-blow account at Orient Lodge.
Update 11:48. As Dave Schuler noted in comments, one of the jurors has been dismissed for being exposed to media coverage of the trial.
Update 12:07. The defense and the prosecution disagreed about whether one of the juror alternates should be appointed to fill the 12th spot. The judge agreed with the defense who may have disliked the two alternates. The defense seems to be pursuing a strategy of jury nullification.
We may see other jurors booted as the case continues. With as much media coverage as there's been and no sequestering of the jury, I wouldn't find it improbable if other jurors have seen media coverage of the trial.
To me, it seemed as if once the defense was prohibited from bringing in NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell to the case to testify under oath about her statement that many reporters knew about Plame, it changed its strategic course to pursue mistrial.
(NB: I changed the headline from "Possible Big News in Libby Case" in this update)
What a travesty.
It's pretty clear that he lied to the grand jury, especially once they started the I'm busy I forgot angle. That just seemed so silly. Fine I forgot about the salad dressing I had at lunch on the 27th. That is forgettable, but not nepotism was involved in setting up the guy who is beating me over the head with this information. Even if you grant that he was mistaken the first time, unless it is intentional forgetfulness you correct the record on try number two, not 5 or 6, or the trial you've "mistakenly" gotten yourself into at that point.
Maybe it's not nearly so memorable if you discard the unproven assertion that anyone is "setting up" anyone.
For 15,000 points which way was the juror leaning and what media outlet will be the first to give him/her airtime?
The juror would have voted to convict and will emerge gloriously onto the scene on the Keith Olberman
CircusShow.It seems to me that they would have an extremely good case for overturning a conviction on appeal. If the judge excludes all evidence about whether an underlying crime was committed, how can that not be error?
I don't buy into the setup theory either. Never thought this should have gone to a grand jury. Don't thinkn he should have been prosecuted, but do think he is solely to blame for being prosecuted.
I still think the political operative in him was salavating a little when he heard. Having info others don't have is better than sex, oil, and gold combined for someone in the position of Chief of Staff.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.