WASHINGTON (AP) - Former New York Times reporter Judith Miller spent 85 days in jail before testifying that White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was one of her confidential sources. Now, Libby wants to know who else she was talking to. Miller testified for more than two hours Tuesday about two conversations she had with Libby regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame. Those conversations are at the heart of Libby's perjury and obstruction trial because they allegedly occurred well before Libby says he learned Plame's identity from another reporter.
She was to return to the stand Wednesday.
Under cross-examination Tuesday, defense attorneys sought to ask Miller about others who provided information about Plame. Miller's memory was shaky at times Tuesday and defense attorneys want to exploit that.
"This is nothing more than classic 101 impeachment," attorney Theodore Wells said. "The very essence of the cross-examination of Ms. Miller is about her credibility."
William Jeffress, another of Libby's lawyers, pressed her on how she could remember in great detail one of her three conversations with Libby—a conversation she says she'd totally forgotten about for two years before finding a notebook memorializing it.
"Counselor, I have already said I didn't remember that meeting," Miller said.
Libby's defense team wants to show that Miller can't remember any of the other people she spoke with and may have learned Plame's identity elsewhere. Variations of Plame's name appear in her notes, but Miller said Libby was the first to discuss it.
Jeffress said in court that Miller initially resisted testifying before the grand jury—despite what Libby said was a waiver allowing her to do so—to protect other sources.
"It's not just Libby," Jeffress said, recalling what he said Miller's lawyer told Libby's original attorney. "She has other problems, other sources."
Jeffress says he has a right to ask about those sources.
Miller's lawyer objected to that line of questioning. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton indicated he would likely not allow attorneys to go too far when Miller returns to the stand Wednesday.
Fitzgerald's case began as an investigation into who leaked Plame's name to reporters at a time when her husband was criticizing the Bush administration. Three years later, nobody has been charged with the leak. Libby is accused of obstructing the case and lying to investigators.
Journalism organizations have decried this trial, which could see 10 reporters become witnesses. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald intends to call Matthew Cooper of Time and NBC's Tim Russert. Jeffress has said up to seven reporters are on his witness list.
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Associated Press Writer Michael J. Sniffen contributed to this report.
