Bush aide Libby convicted in CIA leak trial

FORMER White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted yesterday of obstruction, perjury and lying to the FBI in an investigation into the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity to reporters.

Libby, former chief of staff to US Vice President Dick Cheney, was acquitted on just one of five charges after a trial that focused renewed attention on the Bush administration’s claims of evidence about weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the Iraq war.

On hearing the verdict Libby stood expressionless.

His lawyer, Theodore Wells, said they were “very disappointed” with the verdict.

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said he was gratified by the verdict.

“The results are actually sad,” he added. “It’s sad that we had a situation where a high-level official person who worked in the office of the vice president obstructed justice and lied under oath. We wish that it had not happened, but it did.”

White House spokesman Dana Perino said Bush was “saddened for Scooter Libby and his family”.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Libby’s trial “revealed deeper truths about Vice President Cheney’s role in this sordid affair”.

“President Bush must pledge not to pardon Libby for his criminal conduct.”

Perino said: “I’m aware of no such request.”

Libby faces up to 30 years in prison, though under sentencing guidelines likely will receive far less.

Libby faced two counts of perjury, two counts of lying to the FBI and one count of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors said he discussed Plame’s name with reporters and, fearing prosecution, made up a story to make those talks seem innocuous.

Libby’s defence team said he learned about Plame from Cheney, forgot about it, then learned it again a month later from NBC newsman Tim Russert. Anything he told reporters about Plame, Libby said, was just chatter and rumours, not official government information. Fitzgerald said that was a lie.

Wells said he would ask for a new trial by April 13.

Libby will be allowed to remain free while awaiting sentencing, set for June 5.

During the trial, prosecutors said Libby made up a lie to save his job during the CIA leak investigation by telling investigators he’d forgotten Cheney told him about the CIA status of Plame.

Cheney passed the information to Libby more than a month before Plame’s identity was outed by columnist Robert Novak.