Bush Saddened by CIA Leak Trial Verdict

Vice President Dick Cheney leaves a Republican Senate luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook) (Dennis Cook - AP)

WASHINGTON -- About to have lunch, President Bush paused at a television in the small dining room off the Oval Office to watch the verdict in the trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Disappointed at the result, Bush told aides he was sorry for Libby and his family.

Vice President Dick Cheney said he, too, was disappointed and saddened for his former chief of staff.

Throughout the White House, Tuesday's guilty verdicts were an unwelcome end to a long ordeal that the administration acknowledged was unpleasant, difficult and frustrating. The case brought attention to White House efforts to discredit opponents of the war in Iraq, and the administration's bungled handling of intelligence about weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion four years ago this month.

With Libby convicted of lying and obstructing a federal investigation, attention immediately turned to whether Bush would pardon his former aide to keep him from prison. In another high-profile case, Bush's father pardoned six former Reagan administration officials including former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger in 1992. Weinberger's pardon came just before the start of his trial on charges he lied to Congress about his knowledge of arms sales to Iran and efforts by other countries to help underwrite the Nicaraguan rebels.

"Now President Bush must pledge not to pardon Libby for his criminal conduct," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. The White House wouldn't say what Bush might do.

"I'm aware of no such request for a pardon," presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "As is afforded to all Americans, there is a process that is followed in which to apply for a pardon. And I don't think that speculating on a wildly hypothetical situation at this time is appropriate."

Libby, a presidential assistant as well as Cheney's top aide, was popular in the White House, admired for his intelligence, political skills, good humor and unquestioned loyalty. When he was indicted and resigned Oct. 28, 2005, Bush said, "We're all saddened by today's news."

"Scooter has worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people and sacrificed much in the service of this country," Bush said at the time. The good news for the White House that day was that political adviser Karl Rove had not been indicted.

Just before Tuesday's verdict, Bush was joined by counselor Dan Bartlett and chief of staff Joshua Bolten in the small dining room. Relaying the president's reaction, Perino said, "He said that he respected the jury's verdict, that he was saddened for Scooter Libby and his family."

She said the president's reaction was for Libby, personally, not for the finding that he lied and obstructed a federal leak investigation. "He's saddened for Scooter."

With Libby's lawyers saying they would appeal the decision, Perino said the White House would not comment further on the case because it was an ongoing legal matter.

"Hypothetically, had there been an acquittal today, then our conversation might have been very different," she said. Indeed, White House officials had prepared an upbeat statement in case Libby had been acquitted.

Cheney, in a statement, said, "I am very disappointed with the verdict. I am saddened for Scooter and his family. As I have said before, Scooter has served our nation tirelessly and with great distinction through many years of public service."