Cheney linked to probe into leak of CIA agent’s identity

US Vice-President Dick Cheney was yesterday directly linked to a federal investigation into the leaking of a CIA agent’s identity.

The New York Times reported that notes in the hand of a federal prosecutor suggest the chief of staff to Mr Cheney first heard of the covert CIA officer central to a leak investigation from Mr Cheney himself.

The newspaper said notes of a previously undisclosed June 12, 2003 conversation between Lewis 'Scooter' Libby and Mr Cheney appear to differ from Mr Libby's grand jury testimony that he first heard of Valerie Plame from journalists.