Why Would Scooter Lie?

October 28, 2005

Why would Scooter Libby lie to the grand jury and the FBI? On October 28th, he was indicted for doing just that.  Everyone strongly believes he is intelligent and politically savvy. He has made it to the White House by playing the game, understanding who he is beholding to and where the power is. And yet, he allegedly lied to the grand jury. Why?

Lying to a grand jury can be self serving in that you fervently hope your deceptions are accepted as truth. Then you are off the hook. An intelligent man such as Libby would not expect this result. Lying places you in big jeopardy and would be disastrous if convicted. If Libby did this, then he has a lot of guts, a criminal mind and deserves jail time.

It would make more sense if he lied to protect someone but the outcome, an indictment for lying, would still be there. Yet, in the current perverted political world, this might be a viable option,and perhaps the only option.

Scooter probably lied to protect someone and possibly more than one person. Probably those who made him successful, claim to be close friends and appointed him as an advisor to the White House and the Vice-President. His lies would be a stonewall protecting the real criminals, probably Bush and Cheney.

They might be impressed by his display of loyalty to them but realistically and tragically, they won't don't care if he twists in the wind and winds up in a federal prison. It is doubtful he would risk jail time for a political party. There has to be a personal connection in the mix.

Could or will Scooter be imprisoned?

The question is significant because his trial would be a negative political focal point which Democrats would use with glee. Scooter's trial would put the Administration on trial as a corrupt group of people working in concert to deceive Americans, specifically about the Iraq War. The White House and especially Republicans up for re-election, would cringe at that prospect. The fallout would be brutal to careers.

Scooter's trial would be protracted because of motions and legal maneuverings and these delays would keep the political wound open for several years. What a criminally perverted dilemma for Scooter and his overlords. At the very least, he has to endure public focus and scorn, continually hearing criticism about his professional ethics, competency and criminality.  At the worst he faces up to 30 years of imprisonment.

His unhappy fate rests ultimately with those he worked for … Bush and/or Cheney. They can rescue him with a pardon after conviction but that would not be a political plus for them and their allies.  They will pressure Scooter to work a plea deal because this would stop a spectacle of a  trial and any most importantly prevent Cheney or Bush being called as witnesses.

As for Scooter, he might be satisfied with exacting revenge on some White House criminals by taking them down in a plea deal. This could be a logical and viable personal option.

Scooter is just another a pitiful political hack who thought he was genuinely connected and safe but the saying, "With friends like these, how needs enemies?"  comes to mind and should have been expected.