Monday, July 02, 2007

More Libby

For your perusal:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 2, 2007



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.



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Yes, it will be so tough for Scooter. No jail. Just the stigma of being convicted (at least until January of 2009) and a warm seat for $200K per at AEI.

6 Comments:

At 7:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sigh...I guess there's no surprise here.

 
At 8:04 PM, Blogger Mary Ellen said...

Enough of this screwing around, it's time for impeachment charges. An e-mail from Joe Biden put up the White House phone number and called for everyone to flood the White House to complain. I put it on my blog. It may not change anything, but it may be enough for the news to cover the distaste of the voters of the US...which may wake up the Congress and Senate to add their names to the current impeachment charges brought up by Kucinich.

 
At 8:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, but Scooter already has endured horrible punishment: he and his family have been embarrassed and inconvenienced. How could you wish that on anyone?

 
At 9:16 PM, Blogger Suzie-Q (S-Q) said...

Impeach Bush and Cheney!

This makes me sick that Scooter will walk!

 
At 9:42 PM, Blogger GottaLaff said...

I leave the house for a few hours, and Libby gets off...and by that I mean no prison.

What else would I have meant? : P

I, for one, am livid, despite the fact that it was expected. Bunch of schmucks.

 
At 4:11 AM, Blogger Kirsten said...

I wonder if I ran into Scoot Scoot on the street and tell him I have recently christened him Alger Hiss, or ( lest he be clueless), called him a traitor to his face, will I be arrested as a security threat? Will I be be put in a CIA secret prison without charge and trial?
I wonder...

 

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