September 22, 2006: Libby to Testify on Own Behalf during Trial, Lawyers Assert

Lewis Libby’s defense team files a brief with the court that indicates Libby will testify in his own defense at his upcoming trial. According to the brief, Libby will:
testify on his own behalf during the trial;
introduce a PowerPoint presentation at his trial;
attempt to introduce his notes made during pertinent times; and
attempt to introduce classified documents, including documents pertaining to former ambassador Joseph Wilson’s trip to Niger (see February 21, 2002-March 4, 2002), which his lawyers say can be admitted under exceptions to the hearsay rule. “Mr. Libby must be able to discuss classified information to give the jury an accurate picture of his state of mind during the relevant time period and to show the jury that any errors he made in his statements and testimony were the product of confusion, mistake, and faulty memory rather than deliberate misrepresentations,” defense attorneys write in the brief. [US District Court for the District of Columbia, 9/22/2006 ; Associated Press, 9/23/2006; Jeralyn Merritt, 9/23/2006]