U.S. Vice President's Key Aide Indicted, Resigns

Lewis 'Scooter' Libby as he is driven from his home on 28 October (epa) 28 October 2005 -- A key adviser to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis Libby, was indicted today on charges of obstruction of justice, making a false statement, and perjury. Libby resigned shortly after the indictment by a federal grand jury.

The charges stem from the disclosure to the media of a Central Intelligence Agency employee's identity.

Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's closest political adviser, escaped indictment today but remains under investigation.

The indictment is a result of a two-year investigation by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald. The probe centered on whether Rove, Libby, or any other U.S. administration officials knowingly revealed the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame or lied about their involvement to investigators.

Plame is the wife of a former U.S. ambassador, Joseph Wilson, who accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to support military action against Iraq.

(AP/CNN)