Juror removed from Libby trial

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- One of the jurors in the perjury trial against I. Lewis Libby Jr., a former aide to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, was dismissed Monday over media exposure.

Federal Judge Reggie B. Walton said he was forced to dismiss the female juror from the ongoing case against Cheney's former chief of staff after it was learned that she had unintentionally been exposed to outside information about the trial, the New York Times said.

Despite an objection by prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Walton also ruled that the jury's deliberations would continue with only 11 members rather than add one of the two remaining alternates.

The release of the juror marks the third individual to be removed from the case. Two other jurors were dismissed for reasons not directly connected to the legal matter.

During the trial of Libby, who is accused of lying to authorities regarding the exposure of a CIA operative's identity, Walton has attempted to avoid contaminating the jury pool with outside information about the trial, the Times said.