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Jury scrutinised for Libby trial | Jury scrutinised for Libby trial |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Potential jurors are being screened for political bias at the start of the trial in Washington of a former key official in the Bush administration. | |
The vice-president's ex-chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, is accused of perjury and obstructing justice. | |
It follows an investigation into the disclosing of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. | |
Her diplomat husband had criticised the Bush administration's conduct in the run-up to the Iraq war. | |
The trial is not about the leak but about the cover-up. | |
Jurors will have to decide whether Mr Libby - a highly influential but, until his indictment at least, little-known member of the White House inner circle - lied to investigators examining the disclosure of Ms Plame's name. | Jurors will have to decide whether Mr Libby - a highly influential but, until his indictment at least, little-known member of the White House inner circle - lied to investigators examining the disclosure of Ms Plame's name. |
Her husband, the former US ambassador Joe Wilson, was a vocal critic of the Bush administration's use of intelligence to justify the war in Iraq. | Her husband, the former US ambassador Joe Wilson, was a vocal critic of the Bush administration's use of intelligence to justify the war in Iraq. |
And a grand jury looked into claims that officials set out to discredit him, revealing his wife's identity in the process. | And a grand jury looked into claims that officials set out to discredit him, revealing his wife's identity in the process. |
Cheney to testify? | Cheney to testify? |
Mr Libby stepped down as chief of staff to Vice-President Cheney after he was charged with perjury, accused of failing to accurately disclose dealings he had had with journalists. | Mr Libby stepped down as chief of staff to Vice-President Cheney after he was charged with perjury, accused of failing to accurately disclose dealings he had had with journalists. |
The vice-president is expected to be among the witnesses. | The vice-president is expected to be among the witnesses. |
He will testify on Mr Libby's behalf in a trial that will rake over some of the controversies surrounding the Bush administration's case for war. | He will testify on Mr Libby's behalf in a trial that will rake over some of the controversies surrounding the Bush administration's case for war. |
The proceedings are expected to be long and highly politicised, with potential jurors being asked for their views on the Bush administration and on the Iraq conflict. | The proceedings are expected to be long and highly politicised, with potential jurors being asked for their views on the Bush administration and on the Iraq conflict. |
Much of the drama, though, has been sucked from the case after last year's confession by the former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, that it was he - no great supporter of the war - who had inadvertently leaked Valerie Plame's identity. | Much of the drama, though, has been sucked from the case after last year's confession by the former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, that it was he - no great supporter of the war - who had inadvertently leaked Valerie Plame's identity. |
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