Posted on 12/10/2007 8:27:14 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is no longer appealing his conviction in the CIA leak case, a tacit recognition that continuing his legal fight might only make things worse.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction but President Bush commuted his 30-month prison sentence in July. As a convicted felon, Libby will lose his law license and, in some states, cannot vote.
He might have had a chance to avoid those consequences had he won on appeal, but at a new trial his commutation would be meaningless and Libby would again face potential prison time.
"We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby's innocence," attorney Theodore Wells said Monday. "However, the realities were, that after five years of government service by Mr. Libby and several years of defending against this case, the burden on Mr. Libby and his young family of continuing to pursue his complete vindication are too great to ask them to bear."
Libby, 57, was convicted of lying and obstructing an investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. He was the only person to face criminal charges in the case.
After Bush's commutation, Libby paid a $250,000 fine and remained on two years probation. There was no guarantee Libby would do any better if he persuaded an appeals court to grant a new trial. In fact, by the time that new trial was over, Bush would likely be out of office and the result of that trial would almost certainly stick......"
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
I must say that none of this makes any sense at all. The whole thing is crazy.
“I must say that none of this makes any sense at all. The whole thing is crazy.”
I wish I had a penny for every day I started off by uttering that very phrase.
Expect this to happen after the election in order to avoid making it a campaign issue.
An innocent political prisoner in the democrat party gulag.
His crime is that he is a Republican.
He wants a Christmas pardon from his boss.
If he does it that would be when.
the wsj editorialized that libby
was wronged and that fitzpatrick
should be investigated and charged.
I am sure you are correct, but that is just wrong. Bush should not pull a Clinton and drop a batch of pardons as he is going out the door. What happened to Libby is a travesty and Bush should say so.
As Teddy Roosevelt said, the Presidency is a bully pulpit. Ronald Reagan knew how to talk over the heads of the pinheads in the MSM and go straight to the public. It is a shame that Bush does not.
The WSJ is right, but neither Fitzpatrick or Johnny Sutton will be investigated.
Bush should pardon Libby.
Oh I thought President Bush did. I didn’t realize that it was just a commuted sentence. Libby is a criminal still?
Now that they legal process is over, Bush should give him a full pardon.
I can’t say that I blame him for not risking prison time by starting the process again. I’m thinking he may have already gotten the word that there will be a pardon on Bush’s way out. The poor man deserves it. They all but ruined his life.
“.. As a convicted felon, Libby will lose his law license and, in some states, cannot vote...”
This whole thing was incredibly badly handled. That’s what happens when you let the Democrats set the rules and make the appointments. A broken Justice Department and a clintonoid holdover put Fitzgerald in the driver’s seat. A crooked judge let Fitz win the case. And by letting it go as far as it did, Bush damaged his own reputation.
it was lose-lose all around.
Bush should have fired all US Attorneys when he took office.
Bak then it was all “new tone.” He couldn’t get it through his head that the Dims would never accept him as President.
Unfortunately one of the worst aspects of WH cowering in the face of the Democrat onslaught in this case has been the lack of insistence in public upon accurate discussion of the actual facts. The propaganda fantasies of the left have been parroted ad nauseum throughout the media and the courtroom.
Also, I was appalled that in announcing the commutation of the sentence President Bush accepted the terms of the MSM and Fitzfong presentation of the case, and endorsed the performance of the judge, jury, and prosecutor. Thus, any potential pardon faces the obstacle that the WH did not challenge the conduct of the case. People don’t usually get pardoned within a year or two of conviction, especially not after the chief executive has (wrongly) praised the conduct of the officials handling the case!!
He was a dumb ass. Dealing with Democrats requires proper diplomacy. Keep saying Nice Doggy while reaching for a rock.
“.. As a convicted felon, Libby will lose his law license and, in some states, cannot vote...”
Wow! Plus he had to pay his lawyers fee too. Yieks!!! I wonder if President will eventually clear him of everything. Even though it was not a strong case, this should be a lesson to all not to lie if that is what he did.
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