What a Way To Start

So, the Scooter Libby trial begins today, after the defense succeeded in finding 10 white people in predominantly-black Washington, DC to sit on the jury (including someone who worked under defense witness Bob Woodward at the Washington Post). Apparently Patrick Fitzgerald is unconcerned about the makeup of the jury. And he laid out a full conspiracy in today's opening statement.

Even for people that have been following this case closely, the information coming out about VP Cheney will strike many people as astounding. First of all, the prosecutors made it clear that the evidence is going to show that the first person to inform Scooter Libby that Valerie Wilson was undercover at the CIA was VP Cheney.

The prosecuters will also show that it was VP Cheney who directed Scooter Libby on how to handle the media inquiries on the Wilsons, on Joe Wilson's criticisms, that was a violation of protocal. In addition, prosecutors are alleging that VP Cheney himself wrote out for Scooter Libby what he should say to one of the cruicial reporters in the case and it was during that conversation with the reporter when Scooter Libby gave the confirmation to that reporter that Valerie Wilson was undercover at the CIA.

There was other information that was damaging to the Vice President concerning the State of the Union and the false claim that was made. The prosecutors say the evidence will make it clear that VP Cheney asked the Director of the CIA George Tenet to take complete responsiblity for the mistake and to make it clear that the VP and the president were not involved...

This is a prosecutor essentially seeking an indictment by proxy of the Vice President of the United States. It sets up a cross examination of Cheney, who will apparently be called by the defense, as one for the ages.

Emptywheel has a great liveblog going at Firedoglake. This trial of the century will be blogged.

Fitzgerald is apparently also claiming that Libby destroyed evidence, a note which "would have showed the Vice President's early involvement" in the case. I guess Libby was too busy to remember anything but not busy enough to forget to destroy the notes he wrote down to remind himself.

I'm a mere amateur Plameologist, but that opening statement is getting me hooked. I wish I had no job and Bon-Bons so I could follow it all. Does this judge have a collection of timekeepers on his bench like Lance Ito?