WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush respects the guilty verdict against former top White House aide Scooter Libby but is "saddened" for him and his family, a Bush spokeswoman said Tuesday.
On hearing television news reports of the conviction, Bush "said he respected the jury's verdict, that he was saddened for Scooter Libby and his family," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
Perino refused to discuss whether Bush would consider pardoning Libby, who was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury in a case closely tied to the flawed case for war in Iraq, saying she was "aware of no such request."
"As is afforded to all Americans, there is a process that is followed in which to apply for a pardon. And I don't think that speculating on a wildly hypothetical situation at this time is appropriate," she said.
Perino also indicated that the White House would pursue its strategy of refusing to comment on the case while Libby continues to fight in court -- his lawyers have said they will seek a new trial or appeal the verdict.
"You know, hypothetically, had their been an acquittal today, then our conversation might have been very different," she said, indicating that the White House Counsel's office imposed the restrictions.
But Bush commented publicly when former House Majority Leader Tom Delay battled corruption charges; made a high-profile push in the pitched legal battle over the fate of an apparently brain dead woman; and weighed in when a US university was locked in a courtroom fight over affirmative action.
Perino also dismissed sharp criticism from the top opposition Democrat in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, who released a statement moments after the verdict welcoming the jury's findings and arguing against a pardon.
"It's about time someone in the Bush Administration has been held accountable for the campaign to manipulate intelligence and discredit war critics," Reid said.
"If the Democrats choose to use anything for personal or political gain, I wouldn't be surprised," Perino shot back.
03/06/2007 18:46 GMT