Bush Commutes Libby's Prison Term in CIA Leak Case

Source: Bloomberg

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush commuted Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby's prison term in the CIA leak case, saying the 2 1/2 year prison term was ``excessive.''

Libby, 56, was convicted of lying to investigators probing the 2003 leak of CIA official Valerie Plame's identity. Backers of Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, had argued for a pardon. Bush acted after a U.S. appellate court today refused to let Libby stay out of prison during his appeal.

``My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby,'' Bush said in a statement. ``The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long- lasting.''

The president's action means that Libby's conviction still stands and he is still required to pay the $250,000 fine ordered by a federal judge.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a2W...

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Sorry...still looking. Not much info on tv but that's what the woman said.

Anyone else hearing anything?

There we go.

This sucks big time!

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what more do you need to put impeachment back on the table?...AMERICA IS SOOOOOOOOOO PIIIIISSSSSSSEEEEDDDDDDDD!!!

won't be any consequences to his actions.

No one can stop them now.

expressing their deep disappointment.

in the morning they'll probably feel all better. Worthless shit heaps. Reid and Pelosi sooooo disappointed me.

after a firm scolding by the media

but actualling SENDING it, well, that's a different story.

Bush has now opened himself to a HUGE impetus for impeachment of his person after they're done with Cheney. What kind of message does it send to the White House when the president is convicting the convicted felons who actually WORKED for his administration. Typically these things are left to the successor of your party.

Does anyone have ANY doubt that Libby will be pardoned as Bush is on the way out should Bush not be removed from office??

I agree with you entirely that by the end of Bush's term, a pardon for Libby is likely. No explanation necessary.

I also think you've got a very valid point concerning who should pardon Libby if Bush wants to give him a pardon. Traditionally, it has been the role of the successor to do so - its a safeguard created by tradition (think Ford pardoning Nixon). Clearly, however, Bush has no respect for the traditions of the office, especially those which are intended to preserve the authority, honor, and integrity of the office.

Are these grounds for impeachment? Breaking the traditions of the presidency are perhaps worth a censure, but not impeachment. Pardoning Libby? Fully within his constitutional powers, not even grounds for censure.

If you choose to take up the impeachment call, use Gitmo, attorney firings, wiretapping, or other issues that border on or are illegal. Libby's pardon just isn't constitutionally enough for impeachment. Otherwise Ford would have likely been out of office much quicker.

Before everyone begins attacking what I just wrote, please take this into consideration: I don't agree with commuting Libby's sentence at all. I rarely if ever agree with the Bush administration. But constitutionally speaking, I don't believe the commuting is grounds for impeachment. If you don't agree with my constitutional interpretation, fine. But don't attack me believing my position on the commuting of Libby's sentence is on Bush's side, because that would be 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

Cap said he'd sing like a canary, that he wasn't gonna take the fall for ANYONE.

Seriously. That's how it went down.

This commutation isn't news for BushCo, it's in the way of a family tradition of sorts.

How can things like this keep happening?

I just don't understand it

That is the big question. "How can things like this keep happening?" Why is this whole administration getting away with absolutely everything?
It's embarassing as a citizen of such an originally magnificent country built on great ideals to see it going down the proverbial crapper!
The argument in my mind is Treason vs. blow job!
Come on people! What has happened to this country is criminal! The whole administration needs to be grouped, bound and tossed into the fire. Where is our revolutionary pride? Do we no longer care?

Fitzgerald's statement:

We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not comment on the exercise of that prerogative.
We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as "excessive." The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing.
Although the President’s decision eliminates Mr. Libby’s sentence of imprisonment, Mr. Libby remains convicted by a jury of serious felonies, and we will continue to seek to preserve those convictions through the appeals process.





http://dailykos.com/

Nothing but bad news, day after day. The freeptards must be enjoying nonstop orgasms.

weighed against lying to cover-up knowledge of wrongdoing to protect a corrupt government official--and subsequently being CONVICTEDof obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury... it would appear that the scales of justice have been tampered with, as well as common fucking sense.

increase class differences

be solidified.

IMPEACH the Chimperor, NOW! m

This is the last straw, goddamn it.

There's never going to be a "last straw"...

(And I hope I'm proven wrong, but I'll bet
I won't be!)

Tesha

nt

And that is what makes this so infuriating. The lawlessness of this administration goes completely unchecked. And now, not even punishable.

Anyone remember the born again on death row that Bush refused to save when he was Gov? I'm not an advocate of the death penalty... but I thought for sure the work she was doing in prison and the outcry to spare her life would get her a reprieve...still, Bush didn't give her one. Libby's sentence, however, is too harsh. Go figure.

I say let's send the whole gang to the Hague. That'll show 'em what harsh is.

What do you mean "and now"? Recall the Military Commissions Act of 2006? It immunizes the Bush administration and it's minions from prosecution for violating the Fourth Geneva Convention. Despite violating serious U.S. law, they cannot be prosecuted for torture nor violating the 4th GC rights of non-combatants in "war" (apparently Congress does not need to declare war for this to hold). Bush is now legally free to torture soldier and civilian alike if he decress that it is necessary. This is in your face business as usual. It spells d-i-c-t-a-t-o-r-s-h-i-p to me (at least the anti-democratic attempt to rise to that level by the Bush administration).

You refer to Tammy Faye Tucker in the second paragraph of your post. Expecting fair play and equality out of this dictatorship, and expressing surprise when it is not received -- well, Einstien once rightly defined "insanity" as doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. It just ain't going to happen.

Impeach-Convict-Imprison now, that's what I say. No less is required to restore our democracy.

OMFG

Federal appeals court rejects Libby request for prison delay
Michael Sung at 2:51 PM ET

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Monday unanimously denied a motion by former US vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to delay his prison sentence pending appeal. The appeals court found that Libby did not demonstrate that his appeal raises a "substantial question." Libby, whose earlier request for a delay was rejected by the federal district court in June, may seek an intervention from the Supreme Court or receive a pardon from President Bush.

Libby's lawyers had argued that the conviction could likely be overturned on appeal because Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald did not have the authority to bring charges as Justice Department superiors had recused themselves from the investigation. Libby, the only official held legally responsible as a result of the probe into the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity , was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in March, and is expected to begin his 2 1/2-year prison sentence in the upcoming weeks. AP has more

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/07/federal-a...

He just had to do it sooner rather than later. There was never a question, at least in my mind, that Libby was ever going to spend one second in prison. This kind of blows this morning's Washington Post "Bush pity party" out of the freaking water. It's just one more reason added to the hundreds already existing to HATE BUSH'S GUTS!

I just hope Plame gets a H-U-G-E settlement from her civil suit, one that will break the bastard. His butt kissing toadies will all chip in and bail his ass out of that too though. The scum sucking pig will probably get away with NO penalty at all out of this. It just goes to show what a two tiered justice system we have in this country.

Namely, "If I do time, I sing."

no sarcasm here. asking for real.

And even if I'm right, it might not be the sort of thing he'd ever have to say out loud.

I predict a cushy Carlysle-type job for Libby to negate the quarter-million in fines, and eventually a pardon to wipe out the actual convictions.

Bush already had his game plan in place. They didn't want Libby's case to go to the Supremes, because they would have ruled against Libby's appeal and that would have caused friction with the administration.

Trillions of stolen dollars via the illegal war dumped into their cronies' pockets. Non-stop violations of the law and the constitution. And now "get-out-of-jail-free" cards. It's just insane.

that there will be no consequences.

CRIME PAYS!
ASK ANY REPUBLICAN

has created his own fiefdom.

We are doomed.

and it shows Bush is involved in all of it We see it on his hands now

Having the right to do something doesn't mean that doing it is right.

Even though this may be an unpopular decision and one I don't personally support the President was in the bounds of Constitutional authority to do what he did.

and while I was mousing over to delete it, I thought, "guaranteed under 100 posts person" ---

shocking.

you want to point out the president was in bounds legally to do this -

no shit sherlock!

the point is - when grave crimes against a country are committed you don't use your power for wrong and your lack of anger says all we need to know about the author of the statement

That Bush would do something like this, after all the shit he has pulled? I merely stated the obvious.People are yelling and screaming for impeachment...using your power is not a crime...stupid in this case but not an impeaceable crime.I understand that you are pissed off but don't take it out on me, I haven't done anything...

of slanted "i don't really like the president, but they are doing....." filled in with apologist comments... if you're not one despite the same pattern - I take back my words.

a President's crony can be excused from a prison sentence, simply because he's a crony. This man was tried and convicted, appealed, and lost. How many of us would have been able to avoid jail under similar rulings? You? Me? This goes far beyond "unpopular". Libby did not just commit crimes related to the investigation, he was a major player in the crimes of waging war under false pretenses, and of outing a covert agent so Cheney could exact revenge. The commmuting of the sentence is yet another "fuck you" from the disgraceful, lawless cabal we live under, whom we are powerless to stop or bring to justice.

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Do you think NOW they House will do something? I'm not holding my breath.

they were afraid the MF'er would declare martial law and eliminate the congress?

Just wait. After six + years, Nothing Shocks Me Anymore!

I am so fucking infuriated by the completely complicit democrats in congress.

who lives in her district. He had not yet heard. I told him to call her office, which should still be open. She may listen better to people who are in her district.

If you have friends and family in her district, tell them to call.

I am sure San Francisco is going to be furious about this.

If I remember correctly, that means Libby still has a felony conviction and a criminal record, but he does not spend any time in jail? (A pardon would wipe the conviction.)

and as a convicted felon, he loses his law license.

This is not a pardon. It's a way for Bush, though, to keep Libby's mouth well and firmly SHUT.

He'll hand him the full pardon on his way out the door in 2009.