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
*********
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.
So what? How did Clinton's 300 pardons for cronies look? OTOH, this is one of those phony crimes a President has the right to offer absolution fom..For crying out loud!
What utter crap. Pres. Bush did the right thing here, he commuted a gross sentence. Libby might have broken the law, maybe not, a jury said he did. Libby will continue to appeal. But he should not have been sentenced to jail. NEVER.
Thanks for that bit of humor - I was getting AWFULLY tired of that posters incessant bashing Bush on this - no matter how many times it was explained to her that this was exactly the right move and the one the libby and his lawyers wanted - and why -
her total refusal to read and learn the facts makes me think "no one can be that obtuse", and ask myself "maybe a deep DU mole, here to bash Bush at every chance?"
He'll have a chance to clear himself that way, rather than be lumped in with the likes of Marc Rich and hundreds others who bought the Toons.
Mr. President, do not let go of that pen!
“Ruh-ro, the DUmmies aren’t liking this!!!”
That makes it even better! Some of the DUmmies probably belong in prison.
DUmmies are probably posting from prison, which is why they also complain about their vote not counting.
EXCELLENT news indeed. Thank You Mr. President!
Well, you get the prize of the most ignorant post in the midst of many. You beat out quite a group
“Waiting for Joe and Valerie to crawl out to bemoan this affront to their treachery.”
Can we have an investigation into how Joe Wilson made so much money in Washington? I think that would be fun and instructive. Also, an investigation into how some of his goober friends ran interference for him.
Fascinating. That picture looks the same turned upside down.
Praise the Lord!!!!
Thank God Bush commuted the sentence. But as expected, all the libs on TV are whining about it tonight. Too bad.
No Amnesty, now Scooter is free! It’s been a good couple of days.
Dick Durbin on the Marc Rich Pardon:
It appears that in our investigation of the presidential right to pardon, in looking forward, as Senator Specter suggests, we can only reflect on one president at a time. But if we’re sincere about amending the Constitution or reforming the laws relating to pardons, the committee should not confine its inquiry to one action by one president.
If this hearing is about genuine reform, it should be opened and balanced. It should consider the use of the presidential pardon historically by presidents of both political parties. If it is about a parting shot at former President Clinton, then I have to agree with President George W. Bush, “It’s time to move on.”
Move on, lefties!
I sadly have to agree - I about give up = has FR been so totally infiltrated = I can’t believe this is the same FR I got to “know and love”
” A full pardon, in essence, admits to guilt...”
Or shows that politics has dispatched with the defendant’s legal rights...
—the President’s exposition in his ‘press release’ accepts the facts of the trial and runs against Scooter’s memory defense...
I’m happy he’s spared prison, but the President DID NOT step up to the plate I’m sad to say.
Read what I said JEEEEZ.....
“took a pretty good move and screwed it up with a squishy statement praising the juries decision and closing the door on what I would have predicted was a likely pardon as he was leaving office.”
A commutation was a good move but the statement was ill advised and unecessary. It gives credence to a process that does not deserve it. He should have just done it and issued a sentence or two and then shut the hell up.
I should have let you say it...
Love your post - and TRUE
Oh and the one page with WJC will have one photo = of a blue dress
Damn, you caught me! Now I'll have to switch to my other DU stealth account.
I sadly have to agree - I about give up = has FR been so totally infiltrated = I can’t believe this is the same FR I got to “know and love”
US WHO LIVE HERE..... know the trolls and the bush-haters.... so don’t let them fool you. DU is boring so is Moveon, so they come over to stir the pot in our own home, but I know who is termites and who belongs here. :)
I like my president again too! Mayhaps he’s on the road to recovery!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.