White House fears Cheney aide may be indicted

An embattled White House braced itself today for criminal charges against Vice President Dick Cheney’s top aide in an investigation of the leak of an undercover CIA officer’s identity.

Meanwhile, President George Bush’s top political adviser, Karl Rove, remains under investigation.

White House colleagues expected Lewis Libby, Cheney’s chief of staff, to be charged with making false statements.

Libby is considered Cheney closest ally, a chief architect of the war with Iraq.

Any trial of Libby would give the public a rare glimpse Cheney’s influential role in the White House and his behind-the-scene lobbying for war.

No charges were expected today against Rove. His lawyer was told by prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s office that investigators had not completed their probe into his conduct, said two people close to Rove.

Fitzgerald planned an announcement later today.

It is bound to be a blow for a White House just one day after Bush’s choice for a vacancy on the US Supreme Court withdrew her nomination.