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.
Perhaps Bush will give Libby a full pardon at the end of his term. I don’t know why he didn’t go all the way. It will probably cause Libby to lose his law license until he is pardoned. I assume that the appeal could go on.
Meanwhile, those boarder patrol agents are still rotting in prison. But if work in the white house, or the upper levels of government then you will be OK.
http://www.scooterlibby.com/news/Read.aspx?ID=78
I have donated a few hundred dollars in the past (including just last week with another donation). You will receive both an email and a letter thanking you for your support.
Its a good cause.
I’m thankful that President Bush signed this paperwork today. I look forward to reading it all.
All of them will be hijacked by “Pardon the Border agents” crowd.
The conviction, the fine of 250,000 dollars, and the 2 year probation still stands....
>> the DUmmies aren’t liking this!!! Shower alert!
ROFL! I’m a former sailor and MY ears are red!
Oh, the profanity!
(What do you suppose the average age of a DUmmy is? 12? 13?)
So Bush subjects himself to all the criticism he was avoiding by not pardoning him, but without the benefit to Libby.
Why does this President always straddle the middle on issues that matter to us, while taking a hard line on issues that matter to the Dems.
All conservatives should think about pissing off the liberals and give Rush Limbaugh the credit for putting pressure on the President to do this.
Good News...it’s about time.
YEAH!
Thanks for the link. ;-)
I presume that means you are for the Border Patrol guys remaining in prison.......and thereby you are for being over-run with illegal aliens.....same as Bush.
i'm not over the immigration thing yet, but this helps with my feelings about bush.
Great move...
Commute, not appeal, so that Libby can still work the appeal.
I believe Libby would rather get his conviction overturned, and completely removed from his record rather than convicted and ‘pardoned’... though I still think Bush (and Libby) will go that route if the appeal fails.
For now, this is exactly what was needed.
David Shuster, STFU!
WOOHOO!!
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