Fred Thompson to raise funds for Scooter Libby defense

Actor and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson will help raise funds for the defense of Vice President Dick Cheney's indicted former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Libby is facing trial in January on five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI about how he learned of the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame and what he told reporters once he learned the information from Cheney, the State Department and the CIA.

Thompson has signed up to help raise at least $5 million for Libby's defense.

Thompson is one of 27 prominent Republicans and Bush administration supporters on the advisory committee for the Libby Legal Defense Trust. The trust has raised about $2 million toward the $5 million goal.

Trust spokeswoman Barbara Comstock says Thompson knew Libby from serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee and dealing with top White House staff.

Thompson was a senator for eight years, through 2002. He's best known these days as a district attorney on NBC's "Law & Order."