The Plameplot Dome scandal grinds toward its farcical conclusion.

AP: Faulty memories abound at CIA leak trial
Washington - The CIA leak trial has so far been memorable for forgetfulness.

One by one, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's first three witnesses said they discussed with former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby the fact that a prominent Bush administration critic was married to a CIA operative.

And one by one, each witness conceded a memory problem. One could not actually remember the conversation. Another recalled it differently than when he first spoke to investigators. A third said his memory improved as time went on.

The early testimony points up the difficulty prosecutors will have proving their perjury and obstruction case against Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. In a case that hinges on whether Libby lied to investigators or simply remembered poorly, defense lawyers are eager to show a bad memory is in good company.

Libby is accused of lying to investigators who were trying to figure out who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to the journalists. Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, was a vocal critic of the administration.