tion of justice charges in the investigation of the leak of CIA operative Valerie Wilson in 2003. The criminal investigation was launched after Wilson's identity was published in a column by Robert Novak after her husband former Ambassador Joseph Wilson openly criticized the Bush White House for twisting pre-war intelligence leading to the war in Iraq.

A Spotty Memory

Earlier today Vice President Cheney's national security advisor, John Hannah, took the witness stand at the perjury trial of his former boss I. Lewis Scooter Libby and described Libby as a key adviser of the vice president who had "an awful memory."

Libby's defense team is attempting to demonstrate that Libby, who was concurrently Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor, was so overwhelmed by national security and foreign policy issues that he could not adequately remember specific facts when he was interviewed by government officials in the investigation.

Hannah described Libby's memory lapses as a common occurrence in the West Wing, "I'd show up 6 to 7 hours later and have him repeat what I had told him earlier in the day."

Hannah testified that while Libby was good at remembering ideas and concepts, he was very bad at remembering where he had heard particular information.

"That was a fairly regular pattern with Scooter." Hannah said.

Libby's Average Workday

Outlining Libby's workday for the jury, Hannah testified that it often began around 7am for an intelligence briefing at the Vice President's residence and ended late in the evening, sometimes at 9pm. Hannah described the hours in between as filled with a plethora of meetings and briefing memos that Libby digested on a daily basis.

Hannah said Libby's memory lapses were a common occurrence.

Hannah testified that he and Cheney's current Chief of Staff, David Addington, now split the job that Libby did when he worked at the White House, asserting that Libby held two full-time jobs at the same time when he worked in the Vice President's office.

The defense enumerated the list of national security threats that Libby was facing from May 2003 to March 2004, the window of time when the controversy surrounding the CIA leak investigation began to grow. The list included the fall of Saddam Hussein, nuclear arms development in North Korea and Iran, issues regarding Israel and Palestine, and unrest in Liberia.

Cross Examination

During the cross examination Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald alluded to the previous testimony of former New York Times reporter Judith Miller when she described meeting Libby at the St. Regis hotel on July 8, 2003 for a 2-hour long breakfast meeting to discuss Iraq and intelligence reports about weapons of mass destruction.

Miller had testified that she also may have discussed outspoken Iraq war critic Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife Valerie Wilson that day.

Fitzgerald aimed to show that Libby viewed his meeting with Miller as important considering his busy schedule and the other national security threats on his plate.

Fitzgerald asked Hannah, "Is it fair to say if you went to Mr. Libby and say 'how 'bout we go take an hour and get a cup coffee' he would probably not have time for that?"

Hannah responded, "It would be harder but I wouldn't say it wouldn't happen ... Scooter takes time for me if I need it."

Fitzgerald followed up, "But if he gave an hour or two that week, it would be something Mr. Libby would think was important."

"In regard to me, yes." Hannah responded.

Libby was indicted in a 5 count indictment for allegedly, obstructing justice, lying to the FBI, and committing perjury in telling investigators that he learned about the identity of CIA officer Valerie Wilson from Tim Russert of NBC News.

Closing arguments for the case are set for Tuesday, February 20, 2007.

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