Libby’s quiet rise to power comes down in a loud crash

LEWIS “Scooter” Libby quietly rose to the highest corridors of power in Washington only to be brought down in a scandal that thrust him into the limelight that he so explicitly avoided.

His behind-the-scenes involvement in the public exposure of a covert CIA agent led to his indictment on obstruction, false statement and perjury charges, depriving Vice President Dick Cheney of his closest adviser.

The Columbia University-trained lawyer has foreign policy expertise as a former aide in the defence and state departments. He has been extremely loyal to Mr Cheney and, in return, had the vice president's unwavering trust.