Legal Maxim

There is an old maxim of legal practice that says "if it becomes clear that someone on your side is going to jail, make sure it's your client." Some think I. Lewis Libby's lawyer, Joseph Tate might have tiptoed past that line. This AP story says:
The Times reported that over a year ago Tate passed along to Miller lawyer Floyd Abrams information about Libby's grand jury testimony -- that the White House aide had not told Miller the name or undercover status of Plame.

Miller told the newspaper that Abrams gave her the following description of a conversation Abrams had with Tate: ''He was pressing about what you would say. When I wouldn't give him an assurance that you would exonerate Libby, if you were to cooperate, he then immediately gave me this, 'Don't go there,' or, 'We don't want you there.'''
Tate denies that the conversation took place. An obstruction of justice conviction would be bad for one's legal career.

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