Court advisers lean to leniency in Libby's sentencing

[maddezmom]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby should be considered for leniency when he's sentenced Tuesday on perjury and other charges, says the office that helps federal judges calculate sentences.
Libby qualifies for a lighter sentence than the 15 to 21 months recommended by federal sentencing guidelines, says the U.S. district court's probation office. The office, which filed its recommendations in court papers, cites Libby's public service, damage already done to his career and the fact he was not charged with or convicted of the "underlying crime" for which he was investigated.

Libby's convictions, which also include obstruction and false statements, came after an investigation into who leaked the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame to reporters in 2003.

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald recommended a harsher sentence for Libby: between 30 and 37 months. Libby, Fitzgerald says, "corrupted a truth-seeking process" by lying "repeatedly and blatantly" to FBI agents and grand jurors about his role in revealing Plame's CIA affiliation. The fact Libby was a high-ranking government official — chief of staff to Vice President Cheney — merits more, not less, punishment, Fitzgerald wrote.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-04-libby-sentencing_N.htm

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Scooter Libby Sentencing Preview
By Jeralyn, Section Lewis Libby Trial Coverage
Posted on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 07:36:00 AM EST
Tags: Libby Trial (all tags)


I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby gets sentenced today. While the Government is asking for 30 to 37 months, the U.S. Probation Department calculated his sentencing guidelines at 15 to 21 months, and advised the Judge that departures from the Guidelines, which would result in a lower sentence, should be considered.

Among the reasons Libby is arguing for a lesser sentence:

His record of public service
His loss of his law license
His financial loss due to legal expenses. It appears he is also asking the court to consider the legal fees to be incurred with civil suits filed against him.
Non-likelihood of recidivism.
Aberrant Behavior (a single act or course of action in an otherwise unblemished life)
The 160 letters written by friends of Scooter will be released to the media after the sentencing.

Jane and Marcy will be on scene and live-blogging from the courthouse for Firedoglake. I recommend getting live coverage and updates from them, as I will be here in Denver and reacting to news as it's available, rather than reporting it firsthand.

My last prediction, which I have no reason to change, is here.

More....


The Government loses on its sentencing arguments for heavier guideline calculations, the Court finds at least one departure ground and Libby gets a split sentence of 10 months, with 5 spent in prison and 5 on home detention.

more:http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/6/5/0365/09164