Newsweek: What Really Changed Judy's Mind

Michael Isikoff:

Oct. 10, 2005 issue - New York Times reporter Judy Miller broke her silence and agreed to testify before a federal grand jury last week. This followed tense, often acrimonious negotiations that began after special Justice Department prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald signaled he intended to reimpanel a new grand jury—a move that could have kept Miller in jail for another year and a half, say two lawyers close to the case who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the talks.

So, remember the theory Miller was spinning about a misunderstanding being the real reason she was in jail – one that once she was able to speak to the source about personally, well, the problem evaporated? Recall how Miller’s lawyers said Libby’s side originally gave signals as to the coerced nature of his waiver (and which Libby’s side responds to in the linked article, referring to such as ‘Bullshit')?

Well, looks more and more like Tate, Libby’s lawyer, was telling the truth. If Isikoff is right, what really changed Miller’s mind was the prospect of a new grand jury and eighteen more months of jail.

I suppose it could still be true that there really was a voluntariness issue all along, and Miller's team was actively encouraged to re-probe Libby as to his voluntariness once the 'new grand jury' talk started (that would certainly get me off my ass). But it begins to look more like Miller's lawyer's tale of "That's not what you originally said" is just a cover story, a face saving claim for a client that broke under the threat of more jail.

posted by Dr. Reo Symes at 08:59 PM

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