Libby to appeal conviction in leak case

Yahoo/AP ^ | 3-13-07 | Matt Apuzzo

[STARWISE]

Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby said Friday he no longer plans to ask for a new trial in the CIA leak case but still expects to appeal his conviction.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted last month of lying and obstructing an investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

Requests for new trials are seldom granted. In documents filed in federal court Friday, Libby's lawyers said they will mount their arguments before an appeals court rather than asking for a new trial as they had planned.

During Libby's monthlong trial, attorneys disagreed with several of U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton's decisions, including allowing prosecutors to present evidence to the jury that Libby's defense team viewed as prejudicial.

Libby faces a likely sentencing range of one to three years in prison when he is sentenced June 5.

If attorneys can persuade Walton that they have a strong case on appeal, it could increase Libby's chances of remaining free while the appeal plays out. It would also give President Bush more time to consider a pardon before Libby must report to prison.

[STARWISE]

Go, Scooter ... !

Prayers for success.

[STARWISE]

Scooter !

[Laverne]

Thanks for the update starwise!

FREE SCOOTER bump

[woofie]

If Scooter gets his appeal does the special prosecutor have a role in there or is he out of it?

[Stayfree]

Fitzgerald is the one who should be facing prison time for prosecutorial misconduct...what a PUTZ!

[dfwgator]

Fitz and Nifong should be cellmates.

[STARWISE]

I’m not sure .. but since it would go before the
Appellate Division, I would think they’d be
looking at the trial proceedings for appealable
issues and that Fitz wouldn’t be re-arguing.

Any lawyers want to weigh in?

[Howlin]

Scooter ping!

[YellowRoseofTx]

Fitz and Nifong should be cellmates.

And Johnny Sutton

[goldstategop]

He wasn't even convicted for telling a material lie. The entire case was a travesty of justice from start to finish.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[mware]

One thing for sure if FDT wins the 2008 presidential election, the first thing he will do is pardon Scooter.

[Txsleuth]

Thanks!

[SE Mom]

WOOO HOOOO!!!

EXCELLENT NEWS!!!

RFR:)

[Enchante]

"If attorneys can persuade Walton that they have a strong case on appeal, it could increase Libby's chances of remaining free while the appeal plays out."

Yeah, they just have to persuade WALTON that his own supervision of Fitzfong and various trial issues was incompetent, good luck on that one.....

Walton may not be Fitzfong, but he's still the one who allowed the vicious rogue prosecutor to run amuck - good luck persuading him that Libby should be free pending appeal.

[Stirner]

“Libby is the highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago.”

Was Sandy Berger a “White House Official”? As National Security Advisor he surely outranked the Chief of Staff to the Vice President.

[Logical me]

It would also give President Bush more time to consider a pardon before Libby must report to prison.

Time to stop believing this will ever happen.

[STARWISE]

I certainly don’t believe it will never happen.

[mass55th]

God Bless You and Good Luck Scooter!!

[Peach]

Good for Scooter. I see some people want to re-open the Scooter Libby case because some e-mails from (or to?) Karl Rove are missing. It’s going to be a long year.

[rwa265]

“If attorneys can persuade Walton that they have a strong case on appeal, it could increase Libby’s chances of remaining free while the appeal plays out.”

If they cannot persuade Walton, can the appellate court allow Libby to remain free while the appeal plays out?