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Ex-Cheney aide 'must go to jail' | Ex-Cheney aide 'must go to jail' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Former White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been told he cannot delay starting his jail term while he appeals against his conviction. | Former White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been told he cannot delay starting his jail term while he appeals against his conviction. |
Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury over the inquiry into the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame and sentenced to 30 months' jail. | Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury over the inquiry into the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame and sentenced to 30 months' jail. |
The ruling means Libby could go to jail within weeks. His lawyers will seek to block the decision in an appeals court. | The ruling means Libby could go to jail within weeks. His lawyers will seek to block the decision in an appeals court. |
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 identity of Ms Plame, whose husband criticised the Iraq war. | Nobody has ever been charged with the offence of leaking the identity of Ms Plame, whose husband criticised the Iraq war. |
Emergency order | Emergency order |
Ahead of the hearing, US District Judge Reggie B Walton had indicated he saw no reason to grant Libby's request for a delay in starting his jail term. | |
Giving his ruling on Thursday, he said: "Unless the Court of Appeals overturns my decision, he will have to report." | |
Libby's lawyers will now go to an appeals court to seek an emergency order delaying his prison sentence. They are also appealing against Libby's conviction. | |
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 Q&A: CIA leak case Begging a president's pardon It will be down to the Bureau of Prisons to decide when and where Libby should report to go to jail. | 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 Q&A: CIA leak case Begging a president's pardon It will be down to the Bureau of Prisons to decide when and where Libby should report to go to jail. |
Libby's wife, Harriet Grant, wiped away tears as the decision was given but her husband remained stoic, according to reporters in the court. Libby left the building without commenting. | |
Before giving his ruling, Judge Walton said he had received "harassing, mean-spirited" letters and phone calls, targeting him and his family, since sentencing Libby to jail. | |
At the sentencing earlier this month, Judge Walton said the evidence overwhelmingly proved Libby's guilt. | |
He also fined Libby $250,000 (£125,000) and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison. | He also fined Libby $250,000 (£125,000) and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison. |
There have been calls from Libby's supporters for President George W Bush to pardon him but the White House has so far been reluctant to get involved. | |
Responding to the ruling, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: "Scooter Libby still has the right to appeal, and therefore the president will continue not to intervene in the judicial process. | |
"The president feels terribly for Scooter, his wife and their young children, and all that they're going through." | |
Libby's lawyers have questioned whether Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had the authority to bring the case against him in the first place. | Libby's lawyers have questioned whether Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had the authority to bring the case against him in the first place. |
They also argue that Libby was not able to present a full defence because classified information could not be discussed in court. | They also argue that Libby was not able to present a full defence because classified information could not be discussed in court. |
Public service | Public service |
Libby, who has always maintained his innocence, argued that his long history of public service should be taken into account in sentencing him. | Libby, who has always maintained his innocence, argued that his long history of public service should be taken into account in sentencing him. |
He 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. | He 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. |
Ms Plame's identity as an undercover CIA agent 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 an undercover CIA agent 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 Ms 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 Ms Plame was a CIA officer, and lying about disclosing classified information to reporters. |