Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - Joseph Wilson

It's official: The Wilsons are appealling

crew — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:24:32 -0500

Yes, it is official. CREW released a statement today explaining the decision of the Wilsons to appeal the dismissal of the case:

Having had the opportunity to review Judge Bates’ decision, the Wilsons and their legal team have concluded that there are ample grounds for appeal and have taken the steps necessary to seek review by a higher court. The Wilsons believe that this case presents important issues regarding the abuse of government power for political ends and will continue to aggressively pursue all legal remedies. Hopefully, this case will deter future government officials from endangering our national security to further a partisan agenda.

As Melanie Sloan explained yesterday, "we have always expected that this case would ultimately be decided by a higher court."

Melanie Sloan on Hardball discusses the dismissal of the Wilson's lawsuit

crew — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:54:13 -0500

Watch Melanie in action and you'll know this case is far from over:

Joseph Wilson responds to Tony Snow: Bush officials show "deep disdain" for those who risk lives for their country

crew — Tue, 3 Jul 2007 14:25:33 -0500

During today's White House press briefing, Bush spokesman Tony Snow once again showed the administration's lack of respect for the intelligence community -- and their contempt for the rule of law. Mr. Snow managed to question the veracity of Ambassador Joseph WIlson. The transcript of the briefing is below.

Here is the response from Ambassador Wilson:

To claim that leaking the identity of a covert operative is simply part of the "Washington culture" suggests a deep disdain for those patriots who risk their lives to protect our national security. Mr. Snow's comment was insulting not just to Valerie Wilson, but to all covert operatives who believe that in return for their sacrifices, our government will do everything it can to protect them. A genuine and sincere apology from the White House -- not just to Mrs. Wilson, but the entire intelligence community -- is long overdue.

The president is now implicated in an ongoing cover-up and obstruction of justice, there remains, according to special counsel Fitzgerald, a cloud over the Vice President and Libby is a four time convicted liar, perjurer, and obstructor of justice. The administration once again, regrettably, attacks others rather than accepts responsibility for their actions and crimes. The American people know better. We know the difference between right and wrong even if the president, the vice president and their spokesmen do not.

And here's the latest salvo from the White House Press Secretary Tony Snow prompting that statement from Ambassador Wilson:

Q And also, let me ask you this. The President and other White House press secretaries would not touch this question of Joe Wilson during the height of the investigation. I'm going to ask you now, since the President is now basically saying this is over and he's done what he's done -- Joe Wilson asked for an apology for the American people because of the situation. Is the White House now willing to give the American people --

MR. SNOW: I'm not going to get into --

Q Why not?

MR. SNOW: Because --

Q Why not? It's over now. You didn't want to talk about it then. Let's talk about it now. Do you think the American people are owed something because of the breach?

SNOW: Number one, there is still considerable controversy about the facts of the case, including Joe Wilson's veracity. Number two, there is also...

QUESTION: (inaudible) question about his veracity?

SNOW: ... there is also -- just very quickly, you take a look at the Senate report, his characterization of who sent him over and what he told people when he was in Niger is at direct odds with what he tended to tell the American public.

Watch Joseph Wilson's interview with Keith Olbermann

crew — Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:31:17 -0600

This interview from Tuesday night is definitely worth a watch. It's almost 10 minutes long, but it is very good:

Ambassador Joseph Wilson discusses the Libby trial and the civil suit on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360"

crew — Wed, 7 Mar 2007 14:41:09 -0600

Joseph Wilson: "you don’t abuse the public trust engaging in personal vendettas"

crew — Tue, 6 Mar 2007 16:24:04 -0600

Think Progress has audio of Ambassador Wilson's press briefing this afternoon:

“Now that this trial is over,” Wilson said, “the president and the vice president owe the country a much broader explanation of their own actions.” Wilson called on them both to release the transcripts of their discussions with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, and called on Bush specifically to apologize for overseeing the outing of his wife:

I also learned today that the president was quoted as saying that he was sorry for Mr. Libby and his family. I wish that he would express his sorrow for what has happened to my wife, whose career was destroyed as a consequence of this, and also to the service people of this country who are fighting in a war that now very clearly was justified by lies and disinformation.

Wilson said he hoped the verdict would teach Libby and other U.S. officials a lesson, that “you don’t abuse the public trust engaging in personal vendettas.”

Melanie Sloan interviewed on CNN about the Libby verdict and the pending civil suit against Libby, Rove, Armitage and Cheney

crew — Tue, 6 Mar 2007 14:16:36 -0600

The Vice President does not have absolute immunity

crew — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 10:10:16 -0600

While the Scooter Libby trial is just beginning, another case involving many of the same figures is working its way through the legal process. CREW serves as successor counsel to Valerie Plame Wilson and Joseph Wilson in their lawsuit against Vice President Dick Cheney, his former Chief of Staff I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, top Presidential advisor Karl Rove, former State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage and other unnamed government officials.

Yesterday, NBC News reported that while Cheney maintains he his immune from this lawsuit, that is not the case according to the recent legal filings for the Wilsons:

The Wilsons claim they were seriously injured by "retaliatory revelation" in revealing Plame's CIA employment. The court filing states the Wilsons' "fear for their safety and for the safety of their children." And, the filing says, "disclosure of Mrs. Wilson's covert identity makes her and her family a target for those persons and groups who bear hostility to the United States and/or its intelligence officers."

Attorneys for the Wilsons write that, "No case ever has accorded the Vice President absolute immunity." The court filing states that the fact that Cheney is a part of the executive branch "does not warrant according him absolute immunity."

Why Joe Wilson shouldn't testify in the Libby trial

crew — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:58:50 -0600

CREW, as counsel to Joe Wilson in his civil suit, has filed a motion to quash the subpoena for his testimony in the Libby trial. CREW believes that Ambassador Wilson's testimony would not be relevant or material to the defense.

CREW files motion to quash Joseph Wilson's subpoena in Libby's criminal trial

crew — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:32:37 -0600

Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson has been subpoenaed to testify in Scooter Libby's upcoming criminal trial. However, CREW has filed a challenge to that subpoena. Our press release and the related documents can be found on CREW's website:

As counsel to Valerie Plame Wilson and former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in their civil suit against Vice President Cheney, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Karl Rove and Richard Armitage, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed a challenge to Ambassador Wilson's subpoena as a defense witness in Mr. Libby's upcoming criminal trial.

CREW filed a motion to quash the subpoena on December 20, 2006 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Reggie B. Walton has ordered Mr. Libby to respond to the motion by January 2, 2007, with Mr. Wilson's reply due by January 8, 2007. The matter has been set for oral argument before Judge Walton on January 10, 2007.

Update: The Associated Press has an article on this issue now:

Former ambassador Joseph Wilson asked a federal judge Wednesday not to force him to testify in the CIA leak case and accused former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of trying to harass him on the witness stand.

Libby, who faces perjury and obstruction charges, subpoenaed Wilson as a defense witness this month. Libby's attorney, William Jeffress, said in court Tuesday that was a precautionary move and he did not expect to put Wilson on the stand.