Libby says Bush authorized NIE leaks
{{date|April 7, 2006}}

[[Image:Dick Cheney at a desk.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Vice President Cheney.]]

According to papers filed in U.S. Federal Court by [[w:Patrick J. Fitzgerald|Patrick J. Fitzgerald]] on Wednesday, [[w:I. Lewis Libby|I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby]], Vice President Dick Cheney's former Chief of Staff, has told investigators that he was authorized by President Bush to divulge to reporters information from the [[w:National Intelligence Estimate|National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)]] on [[w:Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein]]'s efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Libby's testimony to the federal grand jury included the statement that he had received "approval from the President through the Vice President" to release portions of the NIE<!-- however he was not specifically given authorization to reveal Plame's status-->. According to court documents, he also stated that this type of authorization was "unique in his recollection".

It was Libby's understanding that Bush's allowing the information to be released in effect declassified the information. Although legal experts disagree on this authority, Libby stated that it was a White House lawyer who so counseled him.

This information has come to light due to Fitzgerald's efforts to collect information regarding the "outing" of former [[w:CIA|CIA]] operative [[w:Valerie Plame|Valerie Plame]]. Fitzgerald has broad authority to conduct investigations, as the [[w:special prosecutor|special prosecutor]] in the case. Although Libby's statements released yesterday may seem inflammatory, it is unknown what effect they will have on either Vice President Cheney or President Bush. 

==Sources==

*{{source
|url=http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0406nj1.htm
|title=Libby Says Bush Authorized Leaks 
|author=Murray Waas
|pub=National Journal
|date=April 6, 2006}}

*{{source
|url=http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/pdfs/0406libby.pdf
|title=Government's response to defendant's third motion to compel discovery
|author=Patrick Fitzgerald, Special Counsel
|pub=Office of the United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois
|date=April 5, 2006}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Saddam Hussein]]
[[Category:Dick Cheney]]
[[Category:CIA]]
[[Category:Nuclear proliferation]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
Vice President Cheney.

According to papers filed in U.S. Federal Court by Patrick J. Fitzgerald on Wednesday, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former Chief of Staff, has told investigators that he was authorized by President Bush to divulge to reporters information from the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Saddam Hussein's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Libby's testimony to the federal grand jury included the statement that he had received "approval from the President through the Vice President" to release portions of the NIE. According to court documents, he also stated that this type of authorization was "unique in his recollection".

It was Libby's understanding that Bush's allowing the information to be released in effect declassified the information. Although legal experts disagree on this authority, Libby stated that it was a White House lawyer who so counseled him.

This information has come to light due to Fitzgerald's efforts to collect information regarding the "outing" of former CIA operative Valerie Plame. Fitzgerald has broad authority to conduct investigations, as the special prosecutor in the case. Although Libby's statements released yesterday may seem inflammatory, it is unknown what effect they will have on either Vice President Cheney or President Bush. 

*
North America United States Politics and conflicts Crime and law Saddam Hussein Dick Cheney CIA Nuclear proliferation Nuclear weapons