Deliberations to resume in CIA-leak trial
A Washington jury is moving into its second week of debate on whether former US White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby obstructed the investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative married to a prominent Iraq war critic.
The eight women and four men began deliberations last week and have issued only two brief written notes, which suggested they are methodically reviewing the evidence against the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
They requested a large flip chart, masking tape, note paper and a document with pictures of the witnesses.
Libby and his lawyers have remained in or around the court throughout the deliberations. US District Judge Reggie Walton has told everyone to be on a 15-minute notice to be back in the court in case of a verdict.
In addition to obstruction of the leak investigation, Mr Libby is charged with lying to the FBI and a grand jury about how he learned and whom he told about CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Prosecutors say he concocted a story to avoid losing his job for disclosing classified information to reporters without authorisation. Mr Libby said he gave investigators his best recollection of what happened and any errors resulted from memory flaws.
