Replies

Libby pleads innocent in CIA leak case

Former chief of staff and national security adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney Lewis Libby (R) arrives at the Federal Court in Washington, D.C., November 3, 2005. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

Thu Nov 3, 2005 - 11:31 AM ET

By Adam Entous and James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney's former aide, Lewis Libby, pleaded innocent on Thursday to charges stemming from the CIA leak probe, setting the stage for a politically damaging trial that could put a spotlight on the White House's use of prewar intelligence on Iraq.

"With respect, your honor, I plead not guilty," Libby told federal Judge Reggie Walton after being asked what plea he would enter to the charges during a 10-minute arraignment.

Walton, who did not schedule a trial date, set the next hearing in the case for a full status hearing on February 3.

Cheney and other top White House officials could be called to testify at a trial and Libby faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Libby resigned last week as Cheney's longtime chief of staff after he was indicted on five counts of obstructing justice, perjury and lying in the two-year investigation into the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

Plame's identity was leaked to the media in July 2003 after her diplomat husband, Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting intelligence on weapons of mass destruction to justify the war in Iraq.

Before any trial, Libby could still try to cut a deal with special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald on lesser charges, lawyers involved in the case said.

President George W. Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, was not indicted on Friday along with Libby. But lawyers involved in the case said Rove remained under investigation and may still be charged in the case. Fitzgerald is expected to inform Rove of his decision in coming weeks.

Libby's indictment was a damaging blow to the White House, which was already reeling from the mounting U.S. death toll in the Iraq war, the bungled response to Hurricane Katrina and the withdrawal of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers under fire from Bush's conservative power base.

PROMINENT LAWYER

Hours before his arraignment, Libby brought in prominent criminal defense lawyer Theodore Wells, according to court documents.

Wells, who is known for his trial work, has defended former Agriculture Secretary Michael Espy, former Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan, former Sen. Robert Torricelli and financier Michael Milken.

Libby also brought in Washington lawyer William Jeffress, who is also known for white-collar criminal defense work.

Libby walked into the courthouse near the U.S. Capitol using crutches because of a foot injury. His wife whispered in his ear and gave him a light pat on the bottom before Libby took his chair and the judge entered the courtroom.

After the hearing, Libby was taken for processing, a procedure in which defendants typically are fingerprinted and have their photograph taken, a courthouse source said.

Fitzgerald estimated that it would take his team of prosecutors about two weeks to present its case at trial.

Before any trial, Jeffress told the judge that there "may be protracted litigation" about classified information and First Amendment issues. He did not elaborate.

After the hearing, Jeffress declined to say how long a trial might take. "It's too early to say," he told reporters. "I'm not worried about anything at this point."

Wells added, with a touch of irony in his voice in commenting on the estimate by Fitzgerald, "Two week trial.

OK."

Libby waived his right to a speedy trial, and Wells during the hearing called it a "complex case." He said the earliest the defense team would get clearance for classified material will be in 60 days, and then they will start to go through a "significant volume of documents."

The judge said he wanted the case resolved as expeditiously as possible.

Bush to Visit Latin American Nations

11/3/05

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush and the thousands of demonstrators protesting his visit to Argentina that will begin Thursday have a common goal of reducing poverty, but the test for Bush will be whether he can convince others in the hemisphere to support his solution.

Bush says nations can band together to create jobs through free trade but he needs to overcome tough resistance from other nations in the Americas. Working to resolve their differences will be a major thrust of his first trip to Argentina, Brazil and Panama.

It'll be a tough sell. He hasn't been able to achieve a Western Hemisphere trade agreement, thousands of anti-American demonstrators have gathered for his arrival Thursday and leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is waiting to challenge him on the issue at the Summit of the Americas.

Bush, Chavez and leaders of 32 other nations are gathering in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, Argentina, for the summit that begins Friday. Chavez has indicated he plans to lead a "final burial" of Bush's plan for a giant free trade area that would include all countries in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba.

Bush acknowledged this week that the Free Trade Area of the Americas, once one of his highest trade priorities. But Bush said he is still committed to free trade as a way to lift people out of poverty.

"Grants and loans pale in comparison to the amount of good that can be done as commerce develops at all levels of government, at all levels of society, as a result of trade," Bush said Tuesday in an interview with Latin American journalists.

While Bush appeared resigned to the obstacles stopping the FTAA, he said he is shifting his focus to world trade talks. Those negotiations also are being held up by thorny farm trade policies, which Bush acknowledged is a very difficult issue.

Chavez is trying to use his disagreements with Bush to boost his profile internationally. The constant critic of the "imperialist" U.S. government that he claims is plotting to kill him or overthrow his government has praised plans for massive anti-Bush protests that organizers hope will draw 50,000 to the streets outside the summit.

Chavez said the street marches will mark the demise of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. "I'm sure it will be a historic event because it's the final burial of the FTAA," Chavez told the Venezuelan TV channel Telesur.

Chavez said the United States is trying to include an article in a summit declaration to revive the FTAA. He said some other South American countries wanted to recognize the FTAA effort for diplomatic reasons, but he would object if they do.

Chavez and his close ally, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, contend Bush's proposal would help large U.S. companies at the expense of Latin American workers. They have instead proposed a trade pact based on socialist ideals.

"The left is back, and it's the only path we have to get out of the spot to which the right has sunken us," Chavez said. "Socialism builds and capitalism destroys."

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said Wednesday that although differences between Chavez and Bush are getting attention from the press, they are nothing new and that "this summit, is not about Hugo Chavez."

"The purpose of the summit is for democratically elected leaders to get together and reaffirm the fact that there is really a shared vision for the hemisphere that is based on democracy and free markets and free trade," said Hadley.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051103/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_latin_america_9