Libby wants memory expert testimony in CIA leak case

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby asked a federal judge on Monday to allow a memory expert to testify in their bid to show Libby may have been confused or had a faulty memory in recalling conversations in the CIA leak case.

Libby is charged with lying to investigators as they sought to find out who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame in 2003 after her diplomat-husband accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to build its case for invading Iraq.

"Mr Libby will show that the snippets of conversation at issue in this case took place amid a rush of pressing national security matters that commanded his attention throughout his long and stressful work day," his lawyers said in a 15-page court filing.

They asked US District Judge Reggie Walton to admit the expert testimony of Dr Robert Bjork, a memory expert and a professor in the UCLA psychology department.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin in January.

As national security advisor to Cheney, Libby's attention "was intently focused on issues of grave importance, including domestic terrorist threats, perilous conditions for American troops and citizens abroad and emerging foreign policy crises," his lawyers said.

They said Bjork's testimony will show why these issues "could have easily caused him to confuse or misremember minor details of conversations" about Plame and her job at the CIA, topics they said Libby did not consider significant at the time.

- REUTERS