The Daily Background

Here’s the Vice President’s response to the Libby verdict, as issued in a press release:

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.

Since his legal team has announced that he is seeking a new trial and, if necessary, pursuing an appeal, I plan to have no further comment on the merits of this matter until these proceedings are concluded.

And here’s the President’s reaction, through White House spokeswoman Dana Perino at today’s press briefing:

PERINO: He said that he respected the jury’s verdict, that he was saddened for Scooter Libby and his family, and that the White House direction from here on out — and I know that there’s going to be a lot of disappointment with this, but there is an ongoing criminal proceeding. Scooter Libby’s attorneys just announced that they are going to ask for a new trial and that they are going to — failing that, they will appeal the verdict.
[…]
REPORTER: Dana, you said the President is saddened by this. Is he saddened by the fact that a former top advisor in this building is facing this personal problem? Or is he saddened by the fact that a former advisor is convicted of lying in a federal investigation?

PERINO: He was saddened for Scooter himself, personally, and for Scooter’s family.

REPORTER: He’s not saddened that his top advisor lied to — was found guilty of lying to investigators?

PERINO: He’s saddened for Scooter. We’re not going to comment on the trial.

Some people are noting that the President expressed ‘respect’ for the jury’s verdict, but they’re not going to say anything beyond that because the Libby Team is going to appeal or try to get a new trial. It’s like saying “I respect the jury’s decision, but since Libby doesn’t, I won’t say anything more.” The Vice President did not make any comments about respecting the verdict on the other hand.

Libby’s chief legal counsel, Ted Wells, had said he was “very disappointed” in the verdict today, continuing to say that “We intend to file a motion for a new trial, and if that is denied, we will appeal the conviction and we have every confidence that ultimately Mr Libby will be vindicated.”

Read about more reactions to the Libby verdict here.

Filed under: Plame Leak, Z-TDB Blog