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President Bush Commutes Libby's sentence

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: 007plame; cialeak; commute; fitzmas; govwatch; libby; libbyisnoliddy; merryfitzmas; pardon; pardons; scooter; technicality
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To: Petronski
DUmmieland Insanity raises BDS Alert level to "Red":

Just coming in - Bush commutes Libby's sentence

101 posted on 07/02/2007 2:58:58 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson (Back home in St. Louis--alert, sitting up, focusing)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Who is this Libby girl? One of BJ’s babes? (sarc)


102 posted on 07/02/2007 2:58:58 PM PDT by llevrok (I voted for George Bush - not Jorge Arbusto.)
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To: ConservativeMan55

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.


103 posted on 07/02/2007 2:59:24 PM PDT by bnelson44 (http://www.appealforcourage.org)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

Commutation of the jail sentence, not a pardon. Big difference.


104 posted on 07/02/2007 2:59:36 PM PDT by kabar
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To: HEY4QDEMS

Yea, and Agent Mike needs to take a look at comment #9 by KAZ - he might need a ‘home visit’


105 posted on 07/02/2007 2:59:46 PM PDT by BreitbartSentMe (Ex-Dem since 2001 *Folding@Home for the Gipper - Join the FReeper Folders*)
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To: kabar

Presumably he will also end up losing his law license due to the felony conviction. Libby ought to demand that Sandy Burglar appear together with him on a panel to compare the merits of the two cases..........


106 posted on 07/02/2007 2:59:50 PM PDT by Enchante (Reid and Pelosi Defeatocrats: Surrender Now - Peace for Our Time!!)
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To: eyespysomething
Can you hear it now...the Drive Bys will be blaming Rush for running America!


107 posted on 07/02/2007 3:00:03 PM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
My guess is that Libby receives a full pardon right before Bush leaves office.

If not, the next president has already said he would pardon Libby.

108 posted on 07/02/2007 3:00:12 PM PDT by mollynme (cogito, ergo freepum)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Great news!!

Gets popcorn and watches libs go bonkers...


109 posted on 07/02/2007 3:00:22 PM PDT by vietvet67
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To: roses of sharon
The scene just outside of the DU offices....

 

 

110 posted on 07/02/2007 3:00:36 PM PDT by itsamelman (Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh. - - Al Swearengen)
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To: mollynme

Amen!


111 posted on 07/02/2007 3:00:57 PM PDT by georgiagirl_pam
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To: Right_in_Virginia

http://www.scooterlibby.com/


112 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:02 PM PDT by ulm1 (target RINOs for defeat Mcain,Martinez,Snowe,Collins,Lott,Hagel,Voinovich,Smith,Specter,Gram)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Thank you, President Bush! From now on, please remember who “brung ya” to this dance, and let’s get some good things done.

Please take a look at poor Compean and Ramos again.


113 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:06 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: ConservativeMan55

That loud noise you just heard was Chris Matthews head exploding.


114 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:13 PM PDT by mware (By all that you hold dear..on this good earth... I bid you stand! Men of the West!)
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To: Islander7

http://www.scooterlibby.com/


115 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:31 PM PDT by ulm1 (target RINOs for defeat Mcain,Martinez,Snowe,Collins,Lott,Hagel,Voinovich,Smith,Specter,Gram)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Excellent. Now, what did the Dems have on Libby?? Wasn’t he associated with someone that Bubba commuted??


116 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:33 PM PDT by Sacajaweau ("The Cracker" will be renamed "The Crapper")
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To: Miss Didi

LOL! He does, though. We all know it! *wink wink*


117 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:35 PM PDT by eyespysomething
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To: ConservativeMan55

Maybe the President is trying to woo back his base. Whatever it is, he did the right thing.


118 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:37 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: georgiagirl_pam

“Chris Matthews is having a cow right now!”

ahh and the weeping Wilsons too


119 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:41 PM PDT by RDTF (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but Democrats believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: ConservativeMan55
Ya know...the thing everyone’s missing is that this man should be pardoned period! Just like everything else in Bush’s Presidency it’s half A$$ED.......OF COURSE EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL......thank God he half a$$ed the Supreme Court by mistake. Someone needs to send Mr. Bush the new play book!
120 posted on 07/02/2007 3:01:45 PM PDT by PEACE ENFORCER (The U.S. Constitution has been Reduced to a Meaningless Document.)
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