Former White House Aid to Dick Cheney Found Guilty on Multiple Counts in CIA Leak Case

Verdicts are a “devastating blow” to the White House; former Ambassador Joe Wilson and CIA operative Valerie Plame “vindicated” in the decision.

Jurors reached their verdict today in the trial of ex-White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, who was accused of lying to the FBI and a grand jury about how he learned CIA operative Valerie Plame was the wife of a prominent Iraq war critic, Ambassador Joseph Wilson. Libby says any inaccuracies in his statements were the result of his faulty memory. The results of the verdict are as follows:

Obstruction of justice - GUILTY
• Making False Statements to FBI (Statements about Tim Russert) – GUILTY
• Making False Statements to FBI (Statements about Matt Cooper) – NOT GUILTY
• 2 Counts of Perjury - GUILTY

The obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. The charge of making false statements and perjury carries a maximum of 5 years in prison each. Court watchers agree that Libby will certainly go to prison but will unlikely receive the maximum 25 years possible.

A White House spokesperson said President Bush respects the jury’s verdict but because there is a civil charge pending in the case and because an appeal is expected, no additional comments would be forthcoming.

Libby and his defense attorney, Ted Wells, approached reporters outside of the courthouse immediately after the decision. “We are very disappointed in the verdict of the jury.” Wells said. “This jury deliberated for approximately 10 days. Despite our disappointment in the jury’s verdict, we believe in the American justice system and believe in the jury system. We intend to file a motion for a new trial and if that is denied, we will appeal the conviction.”

Patrick Fitzgerald, the Special Prosecutor in the case, followed Wells at the podium and thanked investigators in the case. He stated the prosecution is “gratified by the verdict” which was reached “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Fitzgerald stated that he would be extremely disappointed if a retrial in the case was granted. Denis Collins, a juror in the case, stated that the jury believed "Libby was the fall guy” in the case who was “tasked by Vice President Dick Cheney to talk to reporters” about Wilson and Plame.

After the verdict, Libby left the courthouse to be fingerprinted and photographed. President Bush has the authority to pardon Libby before he leaves office in January 2009.