Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted Tuesday of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and one count of lying to the FBI in their investigation of the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.
Libby, a former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was acquitted of one count of lying to the FBI.
Libby could face 30 years in prison for his conviction, but federal sentencing guidelines indicate that he will likely be sentenced to significantly less time.
His defense team claimed that he learned Plame’s identity from Cheney but forgot about it. Libby then heard of Plame’s identity a month later from NBC newsman Tim Russert. Anything he told reporters in between, the defense team argued, were simply remarks on rumors and speculation.
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald disputed the story. The defense team has asked for a retrial to begin April 13.
U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton requested that a pre-sentencing report, which he will review before sentencing Libby, be completed by May 15.