The ongoing outrage all over the right wing blogs about this case being baseless and/or political is amusing.
The goverment (Fitzgerald) charged Libby with
obstruction of justice (impeding the investigation into who leaked Plame's identify) and
perjury and making false statements (lying about when he learned about Plame's identify). Libby claimed it was a faulty memory.
The jury heard from witnesses on both sides (Libby chose not to testify on his own behalf or have Cheney testify), reviewed the
numerous exhibits presented by Fitzgerald (including e-mails and notes between Libby/Cheney and others, hand-written notes by Cheney on the article written by Joseph Wilson, etc.) AND after long deliberation
concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Libby obstructed the investigation and lied to the Grand Jury and the FBI about what and when he knew about Plame. (Fitzgerald suggested it was in order to protect others - a "cloud over the White House"). If Libby was a fall guy, it was a self-induced fall to protect Cheney. Case closed.
It will be interesting to see what Libby's basis for appeal might be.
In the interim, it will also be interesting to see what might come out in a hearing/investigation in the
House Oversight and Govt Reform Committee next week that will focus on the underlying issue of alleged White House disclosure of classified information.