White House supports Cheney despite conviction of top aide

THE White House offered support yesterday for Vice President Dick Cheney, a powerful proponent of the Iraq war, after the conviction of his top aide dealt a fresh blow to Cheney’s political reputation and raised new questions about his influence.

The trial of Lewis “Scooter” Libby showed Cheney was deeply involved in an effort to discredit a critic of the administration’s prewar intelligence.

Libby’s conviction on perjury and obstruction of justice charges placed Cheney in the centre of a political storm. Democrats said Libby was “the fall guy” for his boss, who was not charged and was not called to testify. Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has said there will be no more charges and the investigation is inactive.