Russert done; government rests in Libby case

‘Bad blood’ between Libby and NBC?
Wells attempted to suggest that there was "bad blood" between Libby and NBC News, trying to imply that Russert had some personal animosity toward Libby and was "elated" when Libby was indicted.

Wells played a tape in court of Russert's on-air interview with radio personality Don Imus on the morning of Oct. 28, the same day charges were expected to be announced against Libby.

"It was like Christmas Eve here last night," Russert joked, as he told Imus about the much-anticipated results of a CIA leak investigation that Fitzgerald was expected to announce later that afternoon. "Santa Claus is coming tomorrow. Surprises! What's going to be under the tree?"

But during follow-up questioning by Fitzgerald, Russert said he was eager for the story to unfold like any big news event.

"Did you take joy in Mr. Libby's indictment?" Fitzgerald asked.

"No, not at all," Russert said. "And I don't take joy in being here."

The defense also read a transcript from that same day's broadcast of the "Today Show," when Russert told then-host Katie Couric about the possibility that an indictment could be forthcoming against Libby.

"It's huge, Katie," Russert said on the broadcast. "This is the first time in 130 years that a sitting White House official would come under indictment."

Under cross-examination from Wells, Russert said he couldn't remember the "Today" show conversation.

"Sir, I'm on television a lot," he said. "This one I just don't remember."

Continuing the suggestion that there was an atmosphere of "bad blood" between NBC and Libby, Wells read a comment by Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC “Nightly News.”

Brokaw, according to Wells, said that the fallout from the leaking of Valerie Plame Wilson's name amounted to "the clumsiest case of lying" that he had ever seen.

Libby's attorneys also will try to undercut the credibility of former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who testified that Libby revealed Plame's identity to her. Defense attorney William Jeffress said he intends to call Miller's former boss, Times managing editor Jill Abramson, to try to refute Miller and question her credibility.

Celebrity sidebar
One of the nation's most familiar "prosecutors" showed in Libby's camp in court Thursday.

But it was a "prosecutor" who only plays one on TV.

Joining Libby's public relations person, Barbara Comstock, in the public gallery was former Tennessee Republican Sen. Fred Thompson, who plays a New York City prosecutor on the NBC series "Law and Order." He came to listen while Russert was cross examined by defense attorney Theodore Wells.

At one point, Libby's wife, Harriet Grant, went back and sat beside Thompson. They hugged, laughed and chatted for a few minutes before she returned to her seat in the front row.

Asked why he came Thompson said, "I'm a friend of Scooter Libby and his family."

During a late-morning break, Libby and Thompson shook hands in the hallway and went into a private conference room to chat. Thompson did not return for the conclusion of the morning session.

The former senator is on the steering committee of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund Trust, an organization that set out to raise more than $5 million to help finance Libby's defense.

Thompson, who declined to answer more questions Thursday, hosted a fundraiser at his northern Virginia home last May to raise money for Libby's defense fund.

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