Jurors quizzed in CIA leak trial

Attorneys and a federal judge today began privately questioning each juror in the Iraq-related CIA leak trial after one juror apparently saw or read something about the case over the weekend.

US District Judge Reggie Walton has ordered jurors to avoid contact with media coverage of former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s trial.

Today he said that one juror “may have been exposed to information related to this case outside the courtroom, and conceivably others may as a result of that (have) been exposed”.

Jurors occasionally saw some news coverage during the month-long trial.

Unlike those incidents, after which only one juror was questioned, Walton said each juror would be questioned behind closed doors today.

The decision came as jurors began their fourth day of deliberations and raised the possibility of a mistrial if jurors had been prejudiced in the highly publicised and politically-charged case.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, is accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.

Her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson, is a prominent critic of the war in Iraq.

Attorneys picked the jury of eight women and four men after asking them about their political views, their favourite television news shows and what newspapers they read.

If Walton dismisses any jurors, he has two alternates – both women – who can fill in.

The alternates sat through the trial and have been on standby since deliberations began last Wednesday.