WASHINGTON, Nov 3: Former top White House aide I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Washington court to charges that he lied to a grand jury over his involvement in the unmasking of a CIA agent.

The ex-chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney denied one count of obstruction of justice, two of perjury and two of making false statements when he appeared at an arraignment hearing before Judge Reggie Walton in the Washington District Court.

He could face a 30-year jail term if found guilty on all charges.

Libby entered the court on crutches because he has a broken foot.

When asked for his plea, Libby said: “With respect your honour, I plead not guilty.” The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes and Walton said the case would resume on Feb 3.

The affair has been one of many that has damaged the standing of President George Bush.

Mr Libby, who quit after he was charged last week by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, is the only White House official charged so far over the leak of the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Ms Plame’s husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, was a fierce critic of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wilson says his wife’s name was deliberately revealed by someone within the White House because of his criticism.

The charges and intense media focus on Libby, 55, have rocked the Bush administration, especially as the president’s top political advisor, Karl Rove, is still under investigation in the affair.

It has also placed Bush’s rationale for the Iraq war under a fresh spotlight, with some legal observers predicting that Cheney himself could even be called to give evidence at Libby’s trial.

Fitzgerald said there would be a delay in Libby’s lawyers getting some of the paperwork because much of the evidence is classified. —AFP