Posted on 07/02/2007 2:45:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
Edited on 07/02/2007 3:05:31 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Foxnews alert.. libby sentence commuted
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STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today rejected Lewis Libby’s request to remain free on bail while pursuing his appeals for the serious convictions of perjury and obstruction of justice. As a result, Mr. Libby will be required to turn himself over to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his prison sentence.
I have said throughout this process that it would not be appropriate to comment or intervene in this case until Mr. Libby’s appeals have been exhausted. But with the denial of bail being upheld and incarceration imminent, I believe it is now important to react to that decision.
From the very beginning of the investigation into the leaking of Valerie Plame’s name, I made it clear to the White House staff and anyone serving in my administration that I expected full cooperation with the Justice Department. Dozens of White House staff and administration officials dutifully cooperated.
After the investigation was under way, the Justice Department appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald as a Special Counsel in charge of the case. Mr. Fitzgerald is a highly qualified, professional prosecutor who carried out his responsibilities as charged.
This case has generated significant commentary and debate. Critics of the investigation have argued that a special counsel should not have been appointed, nor should the investigation have been pursued after the Justice Department learned who leaked Ms. Plame’s name to columnist Robert Novak. Furthermore, the critics point out that neither Mr. Libby nor anyone else has been charged with violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act or the Espionage Act, which were the original subjects of the investigation. Finally, critics say the punishment does not fit the crime: Mr. Libby was a first-time offender with years of exceptional public service and was handed a harsh sentence based in part on allegations never presented to the jury.
Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable. They say that had Mr. Libby only told the truth, he would have never been indicted in the first place.
Both critics and defenders of this investigation have made important points. I have made my own evaluation. In preparing for the decision I am announcing today, I have carefully weighed these arguments and the circumstances surrounding this case.
Mr. Libby was sentenced to thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation.
I respect the jury’s verdict. 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.
My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. 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.
The Constitution gives the President the power of clemency to be used when he deems it to be warranted. It is my judgment that a commutation of the prison term in Mr. Libby’s case is an appropriate exercise of this power.
Yes, there is still the fine. I am wondering if leaving the fine in place allows Libby to continue his appeal.
About damn time. But its not enough. The whole thing ought to be commuted.
At least this way he can go on with his life! I have to look at it like that.
agree
fyi
You've gotta be kidding me. His conviction is what liberals in this country would do to every single person who support this War on Terror and who opposes the lies Joe Wilson told.
I am not a person who lives in a commune, but I firmly believe the attack on Libby (they wanted Cheney, Rove, Bush, et al and couldn't get them) was an attack on the entire conservative point of view.
Fitz knew who had exposed Valerie Wilson: it was Joe Armitage, and Joe admitted as much. But Joe was an "inside player" in the State Department...and was not prosecuted.
I totally agree with the people who think we ought to shoulder this together.
I'm just sorry it is happening during the FREEP-a-Thon!
No. I still applaud him for recognizing that we are in a long war with the Islamofascists and for Roberts and Alito. He still has a long, long way to go to make me happy.
you’ve posted this on so many threads. Take a break.
Liars. Doubt they even ASKED anyone’s opinion on this, or maybe people confused Mr. Libby with Sandy Burglar.
HAHAHAHAHA OMFG!!!
DAVID SHISTER IS STILL YAPPING AWAY!
I’m sooooooooooooo happy!!!
Can’t wait to see Chris Matthews!
Good for Pat Buchanan saying on MSNBC Tucker Show, that he can tell how angry David Schuster is over this. LOL Schuster is Chris Matthews’ “boy”.
a pardon makes an appeal unnecessary
The appeal goes ahead if any punishment remains. This makes it less important but still needed.
Thank you Mr. President. A Democrat would have granted a full pardon. What you did gives Mr. Libby a chance to clear his name through the appeal process. Mr. Libby has been scapegoated through this entire fishing expedition.
Regards,
Liberty
And I hope Val and Joe are puking their guts out right about now!
It may not look as good as we’d like, but on balance, I am sure Libby and his family are THRILLED. He can make up the money quickly enough .. think of how much he’d lose per year for time served in prison. I cannot even imagine spending one night in prison. He will be with his family, and he will have substantial job offers... he will ‘have a life,’ which prison takes away.
Hopefully, the appeal proceeds and he is fully vindicated, but in the meanwhile the nightmare prison term is removed.
gun rights are not a minor thing
neither is a law license
2 years probation with original jail term looming for violation
not to mention more fun things about being an ex-con....albeit a white shoes one
The President did this so Mr. Libby could clear his name in the appeal. You didn’t read anything, did you? Scooter was probably asked which he preferred.
That will be a most excellent thread to watch. Thanks!
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