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Jail sentence for ex-Cheney aide Jail sentence for ex-Cheney aide
(about 1 hour later)
A US judge has sentenced former key White House official Lewis Libby to 30 months in prison. A US judge has sentenced former key White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby to 30 months in prison.
Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury in March over the investigation into the unmasking of CIA officer Valerie Plame.Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury in March over the investigation into the unmasking of CIA officer Valerie Plame.
Libby was the former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney.Libby was the former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney.
Nobody has ever been charged with the offence of leaking the name of Valerie Plame, whose husband had criticised the war in Iraq.Nobody has ever been charged with the offence of leaking the name of Valerie Plame, whose husband had criticised the war in Iraq.
US District Judge Reggie B Walton said the evidence overwhelmingly proved Mr Libby's guilt. US District Judge Reggie B Walton said the evidence overwhelmingly proved Libby's guilt.
"People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of [the] nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem," Judge Walton said in delivering the sentence."People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of [the] nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem," Judge Walton said in delivering the sentence.
Mr Libby is appealing the verdict. 'The truth matters'
It is not immediately clear if he will go to jail before the appeal process is finished. Judge Walton also fined Libby $250,000 (£125,000) and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison.
There is also speculation that Mr Bush might pardon Mr Libby rather than have him go to prison. We need to make the statement that the truth matters ever so much Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6263561.stm">Q&A: CIA leak case
Mr Libby is the highest-ranking government official to be convicted of a crime since the Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s. Mr Libby remains free pending a hearing scheduled for next week on his appeal.
"It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life," Mr Libby said in brief remarks to the judge. There has been speculation that President George W Bush might pardon Libby but the White House said it would not intervene in the case given that the appeals process was still underway, Reuters news agency reported.
Mr Libby is the highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra affair in the mid-1980s, when Ronald Reagan was president.
Mr Libby has always maintained his innocence.
"It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life," Mr Libby said in a brief final appeal to the judge.
Although Mr Libby had faced a maximum of 25 years in prison, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had asked for a three year sentence.Although Mr Libby had faced a maximum of 25 years in prison, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had asked for a three year sentence.
"We need to make the statement that the truth matters ever so much," said Mr Fitzgerald.
Ms Plame's identity as a CIA agent in was revealed in 2003 after her husband - a former ambassador - openly criticised the Bush administration's case for war with Iraq.
Libby was convicted of lying to FBI investigators and the grand jury about how and when he learned that Valerie Plame was a CIA officer, and lying about disclosing classified information to reporters.