Not Guilty Plea In Leak Case

Lewis Libby Denies Lying To Federal Investigators Probing Leak

(CBS/AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff pleaded not guilty Thursday in the CIA leak case, in which Bush administration officials including Cheney could be summoned to testify.

Once the charges were read and the judge asked for his response, Libby said in a strong, clear voice: "With respect, your honor, I plead not guilty."

Libby, who is recovering from a foot injury, leaned his crutches against a podium from which lawyers normally question witnesses or address the court. He stood with his recently expanded legal team at the table reserved for the defense during trials as the charges were read.

During the 10-minute hearing, Walton set Libby's next court appearance for Feb. 3 and learned from the lawyers they had no idea when they would be ready for trial.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald estimated it would take two weeks for the government to present its case against Libby, and the timing would depend on pretrial motions by his attorneys.

William Jeffress, one of the lawyers Libby hired this week to bolster his defense team, told the judge, "It may be a little early" to predict when they would be ready for trial. Jeffress said several First Amendment and national security issues would have to be resolved by the court before a trial could be held.

Among the issues is whether journalists will be compelled to testify during the trial and how quickly Libby's lawyers would receive security clearances so they can review classified documents that might prove useful in his defense.

Fitzgerald told the judge much of the material at issue in the case is classified and "it will be voluminious," reports CBS News producer Beverly Lumpkin, who watched the hearing. Libby's newly-retained attorneys told the judge that since it's a complicated case, Libby is willing to waive his right to a speedy trial.

The next hearing in the case is now set for Feb. 3.

Libby has hired well-known criminal trial lawyers Ted Wells and William Jeffress to bolster his legal team.

Wells won acquittals for former Agriculture Secretary Michael Espy and former Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan. He is a partner at the New York-based firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

Jeffress is from the firm Baker Botts, where Bush family friend and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III is a senior partner. Jeffress has won acquittals for public officials accused of extortion, perjury, money laundering, and vote-buying, his firm's Web site says.

The judge handling Libby's case, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, is an appointee of three Republican presidents.

Early in his career, Walton was a highly respected trial lawyer for the U.S. attorney's office in the District of Columbia. When President Reagan appointed him to D.C. Superior Court, Walton became known as a no-nonsense judge who was tough on sentencing street criminals. He served as the senior White House adviser for crime in the administration of President Bush's father before returning to Superior Court. In 2001, President Bush nominated Walton to the U.S. District Court.

The case has provided more fuel to the political debate over the White House's possible misuse of prewar intelligence on Iraq. The Libby case stems from a 22-month criminal investigation by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.

Senate Democratic leaders Thursday accused the White House of continuing to "stonewall" on the case and demanded the administration clean house, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss. The Democrats noted that Cheney hasn't apologized for the actions of his chief of staff and promoted two other staffers who have been linked to the CIA leak affair as well.

The leak case controversy is one of the factors in a new plunge in the president's poll numbers, reports CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer. A new CBS News Poll shows Mr. Bush's approval rating at its lowest point ever — 35 percent.

And with the leak investigation still under way and top White House aide Karl Rove under the microscope, reports CBS News Senior White House correspondent Bill Plante, the pressure will only increase from congressional Republicans who feel vulnerable going into an election year.