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 $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation.
I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.
My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.
The Constitution gives the President the power of clemency to be used when he deems it to be warranted. It is my judgment that a commutation of the prison term in Mr. Libby’s case is an appropriate exercise of this power.
Bull$hit !!!!!
Bout time...
It's so he can still appeal and maybe clear his name
I’m delighted that Libby will avoid prison, of course, but I am greatly disappointed in this statement from President Bush. He concedes far too much political and legal terrain to the depraved Demagogues and I remain convinced he should have gone on the offensive and trashed the partisan, dishonest investigation and trial carried out by the Fitzfong. In trying to appear even-handed he merely concedes to the ‘RATs that this whole sordid saga was justified, when in fact it was not!!
Interesting thread!
Go here:
http://www.scooterlibby.com/news/Read.aspx?ID=78
click on the donate button (at the top of the page).
Fixed.
Me....I've lost all trust in him.....and his little dog (Rove-r)..too.
It is a bait and switch to get the topic off Immigration so Martinez can work with the House on reviving the Immigration bill IMHO. Sorry to be a cynic but I am well aware how certain people operate.
Same people have been around every campaign including Ford’s so call me the cynic on timing.
In order to get a pardon, the one being pardon must accept it. Maybe Libby wanted a chance to clear his name.
Bush finessed this very nicely. He certainly can think outside the box. The libs don’t get to dance with glee as Libby goes to prison and Libby’s appeal process should be interesting.
Thanks for that!
One can almost picture a foaming DU’er, smashing his iPhone with his Birkenstock, Kruschev-like...
I have a long memory.
brilliant!
LOL, this announcement is worth it just to know that so many psychotics at the DUmpster will be unable to sleep tonight!! I just really really hope that none of them will do serious harm to other people (can’t say I really care what they may do to themselves over this news).
I'm not. Good man.
There isn’t that much different, to be honest.
Pardoning removes the fine and gives Libby his voting rights back with a clean record, but that’s pretty minor.
I’m sure their meds will kick in by then.
Sure does not look like any pardon will come! I have to finally conclude that the President of the United States is an ungrateful piece of crap and the commutation is gutless act to appease what is left of the GOP base. I voted for him twice. Against my crime against the Republic I offer in my defense Al Gore and John Kerry. That Scooter Libby does not go to Jail is the only good in this I can credit Bush for.
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