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.
Commuting is better than doing nothing.
Pardoning would have been better...appeals or not. As someone who understands this personally, I can assure everyone that a pardon is a sure thing and appeals are not and are costly.
Bush may think he won’t get hammered by the media and Dems so much....I doubt that.
Folks here think all is well now since he did this for Libby.
I think not. Better than doing nothing but this Libby deal is small taters compared to the damage of Bush’s open borders and amnesty aims.
Flea on an elephant.
Maybe because it was a trumped up political charge by an obsessed, out-of-control prosecutor.
There is no better way to start a week than with a DU meltdown :D
I agree. The President got this one right. It leaves open the option of a pardon later, if need be.
Got it! Thanks
Everyone here at FR knows exactly who he was talking about.
Not me! Martinez is working with some House people to bring back Immigration according to a source I heard from this morning.
This is a bait and switch tactic that Rove is so famous for because now the talk is about Libby not about Immigration.
Yeah, can't really say I blame you.
Since he can still appeal, he has a chance to clear his name, a pardon would have put a halt to the whole process (I think)
I’ve tried reading DU from time to time, and FR is much clearer and easier to use. It takes brains to make something simple but useful.
Bill Schneider on CNN is not pleased with this. Says only die hard Washington Republicans will be pleased with this.
Its funny to watch them all.
I blame Bush.
On Lou Dobbs show (CNN), someone stated that the VAST majority of the people, including Republicans are against this move and wanted the full sentence carried out.
HUH?
Good news and hopefully his appeal will end up Nifonging Fitzy and the judge.
He is a wealthy man...I’m sure he can afford the fine.
RAT heads exploding already...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2901632
boy are they out of touch. Or spinning.
From DU:
onecent (1000+ posts)
Mon Jul-02-07 05:48 PM
Response to Original message
10. This is total bullshit. I hate Bush...hate him hate him hate him
Bump for entertainment later.
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