Libby trial postponed 'till 2007

That's a lucky break for a GOP that has to go into an election year with the corruption trials of prominent Republicans grabbing headlines. I don't expect to hear any White House officials protesting that Libby deserves to exercise his right to a speedy trial.

A U.S. District Court judge today set a January, 2007 trial date for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former top White House official who was indicted on five counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI in a federal investigation on how a CIA operative's identity was exposed.

Libby, who was Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff and his top national security adviser, has proclaimed his innocence.

"We are very happy with the trial date," Theodore Wells, Libby's lawyer, said after today's court hearing. "The Jan. 8 date will permit us the time we need to prepare our defense," he said, adding his client was "totally innocent."

You've got to love that-- 'my client is innocent, and eleven months of preparation will allow us to prove it.' It also won't hurt that Libby's defense fund is already $2 million. Now he's got a whole year to pile up more bailout money from his cronies.