Libby Guilty on 4 Counts, Juror Says "Where's Rove?"

Libby Lawyer: "We have every confidence that Mr. Libby will be vindicated"

BBSNews 2007-03-06 -- Tuesday the jury in the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial found him guilty of four out of five counts on perjury and obstruction of justice, and acquitted him of one count of lying to the FBI. The AP is reporting that the judge in the case "U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered a pre-sentencing report be completed by May 15." CNN is reporting that a pre-sentencing report is due on June 5th and that the Libby defense team has asked for an extension to the June date.

Vice President Dick Cheney waves after addressing delegates at the Republican National Convention, Sept. 1, 2004. Today a reporter asked Libby "Mr. Libby are you willing to go to prison to protect Vice President Cheney?" There was no answer as Libby and his defense team walked away from the press conference after the verdicts. Image Credit: US State Department/AP Photo.

At a news conference broadcast by CNN Libby defense attorney Theodore Wells came to the microphone and said:

"This jury deliberated for almost ten days. Despite our disappointment with the verdict we believe in the American Justice system, and we believe in the jury system. We intend to file a nmotion for a new trial. And if that is denied, we will appeal the conviction.

And we have every confidence that Mr. Libby will be vindicated."

One reporter yelled out the question "Mr. Libby are you willing to go to prison to protect Vice President Cheney?"

Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said shortly after that, also during a news conference broadcast by CNN:

"The jury was obviously convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had lied and obstructed justice in a serious matter. The results are actually sad, sad where that we had a situation where a high level official, a person who worked in the office of [the] Vice President, obstructed justice and lied under oath. We wish that it had not happened, but it did."

Fitzgerald said that he does not expect to be filing any "further charges" in this case unless any new information comes to light.

CNN also broadcast a Libby trial juror Denis Collins saying that during deliberations there was a certain amount of sympathy towards Libby, that they asked themselves, "Where's Rove?"