"There Ain't No Justice."
IMPEACH NOW!
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.
You actually called the President of the United States a Prick?? You should be ashamed of yourself, however I doubt that’s possible.
If FR had any dignity you would be banned.
Pray for W and Our Troops
it’s not enough. Scooter still has a criminal record and has to pay the fine and stay on probation. He should pardon him and give him his old job back.
When the appeals process goes through, I have a hunch the same thing that happened to Nifong, might just happen to Fitzfong!!!!
YEAH!!!!! I am so happy....wish he had done more but I think he will before he leaves office. The fine, etc.
I loved comment # 10.
Bernie Goldberg would love it as well.
Scooter ~~ Pres. Bush commutes his sentence to jail. Hallelujah !! And he’ll still be appealing the case. Thank you, Pres. Bush !!
This is for his defense fund, I am sure that it can go to his fine as well.
You have to turn on MSNBC for the entertainment factor! Rev. Al is on!
Damn! You people are FAST!
It’s ABOUT DAMN TIME Bush did this... I was honestly starting to think W’s gonads were in Hillary’s lock box.
This will help with base... and, drive the Lib IMPEACH W crowd into over-drive! :-)
Another good day!
Yeah... but I only said that on ONE of these EIGHT Scooter threads, LOL.
Which Rat is going to be the first to go nuts over this?
"There Ain't No Justice."
IMPEACH NOW!
Watch the leftists howl when an actual political prisoner gets relief!
Why? Libby is a millionaire! Why would any regular person contribute to his fund?
It appears that Libby will not have to serve jail time, but he will still have to pay the $250,000 fine and be on probation for two years. Not a total pardon.
It’s about time!!! ^5 to President Bush!!
It is BS that this was not a pardon!
As I understood it, the effect of a "respite of sentence" would be that Libby could stay out of jail until his appeals process was finished (and I hope his conviction reversed).
Seemed to me the most "conservative" thing for Bush to do -- to give Libby a chance to be fully exonerated.
So I'll be surprised if the announcement is something that goes farther than that ... but I'm prepared to be surprised.
“Just heard! Libby will not be going to prison. He will get commuted and be on probation for 2 years and pay a fine.”
I can’t think of any reason why Libby’s punishment should have exceeded Sandy Berger’s.
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