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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Washington braces for CIA trial | Washington braces for CIA trial |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The trial of a former White House aide has opened in Washington, a process likely to shed light on how the Bush team operated in the Iraq war run-up. | |
| Lewis "Scooter" Libby is charged with lying about the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity in 2003. | Lewis "Scooter" Libby is charged with lying about the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity in 2003. |
| It has been alleged Valerie Plame was "outed" in revenge for her husband's attack on President George Bush's use of intelligence to justify the war. | It has been alleged Valerie Plame was "outed" in revenge for her husband's attack on President George Bush's use of intelligence to justify the war. |
| The case is not about the leak itself but the alleged cover-up. | The case is not about the leak itself but the alleged cover-up. |
| Deliberately revealing an agent's name is a serious offence in the US and the leak sparked a high-level criminal inquiry. | Deliberately revealing an agent's name is a serious offence in the US and the leak sparked a high-level criminal inquiry. |
| Jurors will have to decide whether Mr Libby, once chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney, lied to investigators examining the disclosure of Ms Plame's name. | Jurors will have to decide whether Mr Libby, once chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney, lied to investigators examining the disclosure of Ms Plame's name. |
| Some legal experts say that the prosecution's case has been undermined by its decision not to pursue former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who said after the inquiry was over that it was he who had inadvertently leaked the agent's identity. | Some legal experts say that the prosecution's case has been undermined by its decision not to pursue former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who said after the inquiry was over that it was he who had inadvertently leaked the agent's identity. |
| The trial is starting with opening statements from both sides. | |
| 'Can't remember' | 'Can't remember' |
| Ms Plame and her husband, former US ambassador Joseph Wilson, have accused leading White House figures of seeking to punish him for his criticism by leaking her name - and thus ruining her career - to reporters. | Ms Plame and her husband, former US ambassador Joseph Wilson, have accused leading White House figures of seeking to punish him for his criticism by leaking her name - and thus ruining her career - to reporters. |
| Ms Plame's name and job appeared in a newspaper column shortly after Mr Wilson accused the Bush administration of insisting Iraq was trying to buy uranium for weapons long after it knew this to be untrue. | Ms Plame's name and job appeared in a newspaper column shortly after Mr Wilson accused the Bush administration of insisting Iraq was trying to buy uranium for weapons long after it knew this to be untrue. |
| The Wilsons argue that she was betrayed | The Wilsons argue that she was betrayed |
| A grand jury looked into claims that officials set out to discredit him, revealing his wife's identity in the process. | A grand jury looked into claims that officials set out to discredit him, revealing his wife's identity in the process. |
| It is this panel that Mr Libby is accused of lying to about the fact that he discussed her with reporters. | It is this panel that Mr Libby is accused of lying to about the fact that he discussed her with reporters. |
| His lawyers intend to argue that any inaccurate testimony he gave was because he could not recall the details of every conversation he had had at a time when he was preoccupied with major national security issues. | His lawyers intend to argue that any inaccurate testimony he gave was because he could not recall the details of every conversation he had had at a time when he was preoccupied with major national security issues. |
| Lengthy jury selection | Lengthy jury selection |
| His lawyers have also tried to exclude strong opponents of the Bush administration from sitting on the jury. | His lawyers have also tried to exclude strong opponents of the Bush administration from sitting on the jury. |
| The selection period took four days, an unusually long time, because so many candidates were critical of the White House team, especially Mr Cheney, who is expected to be a major witness. | The selection period took four days, an unusually long time, because so many candidates were critical of the White House team, especially Mr Cheney, who is expected to be a major witness. |
| Correspondents say as a result of weeding out bias, the jury is not representative of Washington, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 9-to-1 and blacks outnumber whites by more than 2-to-1. | Correspondents say as a result of weeding out bias, the jury is not representative of Washington, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 9-to-1 and blacks outnumber whites by more than 2-to-1. |
| The jury has 10 whites and two blacks. | The jury has 10 whites and two blacks. |
| According to AP, they include a travel agent who only looks at newspapers for the sudoku puzzles, and a hotel sales agent who describes herself as a "master of all things pop culture, but nothing related to current events". | According to AP, they include a travel agent who only looks at newspapers for the sudoku puzzles, and a hotel sales agent who describes herself as a "master of all things pop culture, but nothing related to current events". |
| Mr Libby, who faces five separate charges, could be imprisoned for up to 30 years - up to 10 years on the obstruction charge and up to five years on each of the others. | Mr Libby, who faces five separate charges, could be imprisoned for up to 30 years - up to 10 years on the obstruction charge and up to five years on each of the others. |
| However, lawyers say that any sentence would probably be much shorter because, if he is found guilty, the offences might be taken as part of a single action and run concurrently. He also faces a maximum fine of $1.25m (£637,000). | However, lawyers say that any sentence would probably be much shorter because, if he is found guilty, the offences might be taken as part of a single action and run concurrently. He also faces a maximum fine of $1.25m (£637,000). |
| He has said he is confident of being exonerated. | He has said he is confident of being exonerated. |