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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jail sentence for ex-Cheney aide | Jail sentence for ex-Cheney aide |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A US judge has sentenced former key White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby to 30 months in prison. He remains free pending an appeal hearing. | A US judge has sentenced former key White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby to 30 months in prison. He remains free pending an appeal hearing. |
| 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 Ms Plame whose husband criticised the Iraq war. | Nobody has ever been charged with the offence of leaking the name of Ms Plame whose husband criticised the Iraq war. |
| President George W Bush feels "terrible for the family, especially for his wife and kids," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. | President George W Bush feels "terrible for the family, especially for his wife and kids," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. |
| 'The truth matters' | 'The truth matters' |
| US District Judge Reggie B Walton said the evidence overwhelmingly proved 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. |
| We need to make the statement that the truth matters ever so much Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald Q&A: CIA leak case | We need to make the statement that the truth matters ever so much Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald Q&A: CIA leak case |
| Judge Walton also fined Libby $250,000 (£125,000) and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison. | Judge Walton also fined Libby $250,000 (£125,000) and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison. |
| Mr Libby remains free pending a hearing scheduled for next week on his appeal. | Mr Libby remains free pending a hearing scheduled for next week on his appeal. |
| There has been speculation that President Bush might pardon Libby but the White House said it would not intervene in the case given that the appeals process was still underway. | |
| 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 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. | Mr Libby has always maintained his innocence. |
| WHAT IS CIA LEAK CASE ABOUT? Libby was found guilty of lying to the FBI and a grand jury over revelations about CIA agent Valerie Plame's identityCritics said the White House leaked Ms Plame's identity to undermine her husband, ex-ambassador Joseph WilsonHe had publicly cast doubt on the Bush administration's case for war in IraqThe alleged cover-up, rather than the leak itself, was the subject of the Libby trial | WHAT IS CIA LEAK CASE ABOUT? Libby was found guilty of lying to the FBI and a grand jury over revelations about CIA agent Valerie Plame's identityCritics said the White House leaked Ms Plame's identity to undermine her husband, ex-ambassador Joseph WilsonHe had publicly cast doubt on the Bush administration's case for war in IraqThe alleged cover-up, rather than the leak itself, was the subject of the Libby trial |
| "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. | "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. | "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. | 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. | 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. |