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| Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence |
| 2007-07-02 |
| 'bout friggin time. Now Patrick Fitzgerald.... President Bush commuted the sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby on Monday, sparing him from a 2 1/2-year prison term that Bush said was excessive. Bush's move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. That meant Libby was likely to have to report to prison soon and put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. "I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison." Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, and Bush said his action still "leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby." Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative's identity. He was the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair. Bush said of Cheney's former aide: "The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting." |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #12 Hillary is complaining about this. Just for the record: List if Clinton's Pardons (These are Pardons, not commutes...) And Bush can't pardon Border Patrol officers who were only doing their job..... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-07-02 23:44 |
| #11 NS, sounds like Frank's going to open his own "AH Ripper" campaign on you ifn you're not careful! |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-07-02 23:42 |
| #10 NS, the selective disregard of Tim Russert's and Andrea Mitchell's lying discrepancies (along with allowing them to testify with atty's present - a no-no for ALL other GJ testifiers) conveys a partisan witch-hunt. Fitz also knew - as others noted - the source of the info, not Libby, all the time. He posted a perjury trap to throw a bone to the left and justify his costs and damage to the gov't for his resume self-improvement. If you disagree, NS, I'll use Just One Minute's archives to tear you a new one. Take a minute to think about it - your everlasting RB credibility for a snap comment vs a trial's worth of commentary (backed by evidence and case law) that the prosecutor ran wild. Do you feel lucky....? Do I need a new "project"? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-02 22:40 |
| #9 How Fitzgerald managed to manufacture from a faulty memory "I can't recall" to a conviction for Obstruction of justice, I can't quite compute. Maybe because there was credible and convincing evidence Libby affirmatively lied repeatedly to the GJ. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-07-02 22:26 |
| #8 i think it's funny just because you know it is gonna piss democrats off royaly |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-07-02 22:12 |
| #7 The fund raising to continue the appeal is well under way, a private sector/think tank sinecure is swell, but it's just a shame that he cannot move home to a lightly populated western state to run for the Senate. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Leftist Irritating Commutation Division 2007-07-02 21:53 |
| #6 Crapper PIM'BUDDY! |
| Posted by: RD 2007-07-02 20:20 |
| #5 Nifonged |
| Posted by: RD 2007-07-02 20:18 |
| #4 Patrick Fitzgerald Nifong Scooter Libby. He knew from DAY 1, before the Grand Jury was impaneled that Richard Armitage ex Deputy Secretary of State was the source naming the pair of Prima Donnas, Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson. How Fitzgerald managed to manufacture from a faulty memory "I can't recall" to a conviction for Obstruction of justice, I can't quite compute. Washington DC is the the ring around the Solars Systems Craper. It contains one of the highest concentration of Con Men and Women, Liars, and Thieves East of the Mississippi. At least Scooter ain't doing time for a very questionable crime. Too bad President Bush didn't commuted the fine . |
| Posted by: RD 2007-07-02 20:17 |
| #3 I'd keep a career-limit on Judge Reggie Walton who was so concerned for the safety of the US that he wouldn't allow Libby to remain free while on appeal. Too concerned with his media limelight and sucking up to the Donks (future admin?) and the lefty blogs? When Firedoglake sez you're a genius....you aren't. When Kos sez you have integrity....you don't. He was appointed by Bush, btw. Another "courageous maverick" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-02 19:53 |
| #2 About friggin time but it should have been a pardon. Now it's time to charge Fitz with Presecutorial misconduct, once he knew NO CRIME was committed he should have folded up his tent and went home. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-07-02 19:46 |
| #1 Likely presidential candidate Fred Thompson (R) released this statement: "I am very happy for Scooter Libby. I know that this is a great relief to him, his wife and children. While for a long time I have urged a pardon for Scooter, I respect the President's decision. This will allow a good American, who has done a lot for his country, to resume his life." |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-02 19:26 |