Scooter Libby Guilty On Four Counts

The jury is in.  Libby was convicted on two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of lying to the FBI.

The verdict culminated a nearly four-year investigation into how CIA official Valerie Plame's name was leaked to reporters in 2003. The trial revealed how top members of the administration were eager to discredit Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who accused the administration of doctoring prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Libby, who was once Cheney's most trusted adviser and an assistant to President Bush, was expressionless as the jury verdict was announced on the 10th day of deliberations. His wife, Harriet Grant, choked out a sob and sank her head.

He faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced June 5 but under federal sentencing guidelines is likely to face far less. Defense attorneys immediately promised to ask for a new trial or appeal the conviction.

Jonathan at GOP Bloggers suggests meting out punishment in keeping with the Clinton/Berger precedent for disciplining liars.

In fact, as Ace notes, Berger's transgressions were meaningfully worse than Libby's; not only did they involve lying to authorities, but the underlying act about which he was lying was itself illegal (not to mention egregiously reckless and potentially harmful to national security), whereas the underlying, precipitating actions in the Libby case were not, nor was there ever a reasonable suspicion that they were.  Applying the Berger template would saddle Libby with a few bucks in fines and a polygraph test that he wouldn't actually ever have to take.

Ian at Hot Air is stacking up pictures, video, and statements as they continue to emerge.