WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- An expressed distrust of the Bush administration and the Iraq war has slowed jury selection in the Washington perjury trial of I. Lewis Libby.
Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, faces five felony counts for his role in an investigation of who leaked to journalists the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame in July 2003. He is charged with lying to FBI agents and a grand jury.
The judge had hoped to begin opening arguments Monday, the New York Times said, but only 30 of the needed 36 potential jurors had been qualified as the Friday session began.
Thursday was consumed with unexpectedly long bouts of questioning, largely from Libby's lawyers, who are trying to keep out anyone biased against the administration.
