Top Cheney aide charged in CIA leak probe

Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis Libby, was indicted yesterday for obstructing justice, perjury and lying after a two-year CIA leak investigation, another blow to the White House that raises the spectre of a politically damaging trial.

Mr Libby, who could face up to 30 years in prison, resigned minutes after the indictment was handed up in federal court in Washington. In a statement, Mr Cheney said Mr Libby would "fight the charges brought against him".

President George W. Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, was not indicted along with Mr Libby, but special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has made clear to Mr Rove he remains under investigation and in legal jeopardy, lawyers said.

Mr Libby's indictment and resignation was another setback to a White House already on the defensive over the bungled initial response to Hurricane Katrina, growing opposition to the Iraq war and the withdrawal of Mr Bush's nominee for the US Supreme Court, Harriet Miers under fire from Mr Bush's conservative base.

At a news conference after the grand jury acted, Mr Fitzgerald said his investigation was continuing but he declined to discuss anyone who was not charged.

"It's not over," he told reporters.

Despite initial denials, both Mr Rove and Mr Libby spoke to reporters in June and July 2003 about the CIA operative, Valerie Plame, whose identiy was leaked to the media.

Mr Libby, who played a major behind-the-scenes role in building the case for the Iraq war, was accused in the five-count indictment of making false statements about how and when he learned and disclosed to reporters classified information about Ms Plame.

Ms Plame's identity was leaked to the media after her diplomat husband, Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting prewar intelligence to support military action against Iraq. Mr Wilson said it was done deliberately to erode his credibility.

Mr Libby was not charged with illegally disclosing the name of a CIA operative. The charges were the first brought as part of the investigation.

If convicted, Mr Libby, 55, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine, prosecutors said.

The charges accuse Mr Libby of lying to FBI agents who interviewed him on October 14, 2003, and November 26, 2003, committing perjury while testifying under oath to the grand jury twice in March 2004, and engaging in obstruction of justice by impeding the grand jury's investigation.