Juror says Libby 'seemed like fall guy'
Noting that he was the only juror that planned to speak at this time, Denis Collins offered insight in a post-trial press conference after he and ten fellow citizens found former White House adviser I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby guilty of four charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, and making a false statement.
The jury believed that "it seemed like Libby was the fall guy," according to Collins.
Collins is a former Washington Post reporter and noted at the start of his press conference that he felt an obligation to speak to the press because of his former profession, a sentiment his fellow jurors appeared not to share.
Collins discussed the thinking the jurors used to come to their decision, including "thirty-four Post-It notes" arrayed around the juror's chambers containing all the information they distilled from the testimony.
At some point, the jury began to feel like they were deliberating on charges for the wrong man.
"What are we doing with this guy? Where's Rove? Where are these other bad guys," he said. "It seemed like Libby was the fall guy."
He added, "Some jurors commented 'this sucks' for Libby."
According to Collins, the jury believed that the former White House aide was "tasked by Vice President Dick Cheney to talk to reporters" about Valerie Plame and her husband, former Ambassador Joe Wilson.
Collins insisted that no political agenda emerged among the jurors.
"I never heard anyone on this trial issue a political belief," he claimed.
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