Bush pardons Libby

[tristano's ghost]

AP is reporting. Not a pardon per se, evidently, but a commutation of Libby's prison sentence.

[tristano's ghost]

Presidential statement:

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.

[Gary Sisco]

What a surprise!

He's a fucking soft on crime republothug. Who'da thunk?

[tristano's ghost]

It's not a surprise, but I'll admit to being surprised at:

(1) How quickly Bush pulled this after Libby's appeal to stay out of the slammer was denied
(2) How maddening it is, even when you think you've fully comprehended the lawlessness and criminality of this particular president.

Josh Marshall makes a good point:

As you've no doubt already heard shouted from near every rooftop, President Bush has commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. Specifically, the conviction stands -- the fine and probation stand. Libby just doesn't have to spend a day in prison.

Now, here's the key to this.

There is a conceivable argument --- a very poor one but a conceivable one --- for pardoning Scooter Libby, presumably on the argument that the entire prosecution was political and thus illegitimate. But what conceivable argument does the president have for micromanaging the sentence? To decide that the conviction is appropriate, that probation is appropriate, that a substantial fine is appropriate --- just no prison sentence.

This is being treated in the press as splitting the difference, an elegant compromise. But it is the least justifiable approach. The president has decided that the sentencing guidelines and the opinion of judge don't cut it.

The only basis for this decision is that Libby is the vice president's friend, the vice president rules the president and this was the minimum necessary to keep the man silent.

-- Josh Marshall

And Libby won't have to pay the fine himself--lotsa GOP fatcats have contributed to his defense fund, and I doubt he'll have to cough up a penny of his own true dough.

[Scott Dolan]

*yawn*


Is it over yet?

[Monte Smith]

It's not a surprise.

[Paul B]

It's not a surprise, but it is a disgrace.

[tristano's ghost]

It is, even by these sleazebags' standards.

Unfortunately, Mr. Dolan (and your *yawn* always imports that something of significance has occurred... my man, I'd bet Mosaic boxes on it... it's a sort of reverse-polarity effect), it won't "be over" until January 2009. In an ideal universe we'd impeach both Bush & Cheney, but--oh boy!--is it far from being an ideal universe.

I'll be interested to see what happens if/when Congress votes our criminal clowns in contempt for refusing to cough up the Justice Dpt. documents.

[tristano's ghost]

Department of Justice manual on commutations:

Section 1-2.113 Standards for Considering Commutation Petitions
A commutation of sentence reduces the period of incarceration; it does not imply forgiveness of the underlying offense, but simply remits a portion of the punishment. It has no effect upon the underlying conviction and does not necessarily reflect upon the fairness of the sentence originally imposed. Requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence. Nor are commutation requests generally accepted from persons who are presently challenging their convictions or sentences through appeal or other court proceeding.

Must be nice to be rich, powerful, privileged, and Republican.

[Jon Abbey]

Fixed.

Originally Posted by tristano's ghost

In an ideal universe we'd machine-gun both Bush & Cheney

[bostontricky]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

It's not a surprise.

You don't think this was a little, um, swift?

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by bostontricky

You don't think this was a little, um, swift?

if bush was going to do it, i guess it had to be swift as it sounded like libby would have to report to prison very soon.

[lynn]

This really seems like an abuse of power since as noted above, it hadn't fully gone through the appeals processs.

In the White House statement -

The White House said Bush came to his decision in the past week or two and made it final Monday because of the ruling of the appeals panel, which meant Libby would be going to prison soon.

The president's announcement came just as prison seemed likely for Libby. He recently lost an appeals court fight that was his best chance to put the sentence on hold, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had already designated him inmate No. 28301-016.

Bush's statement made no mention of the term "pardon," and he made clear that he was not willing to wipe away all penalties for Libby.

The president noted Libby supporters' argument that the punishment did not fit the crime for a "first-time offender with years of exceptional public service."

Yet, he added, "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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cia_leak_...PIVEqF9ZCs0NUE

I really hope those words come back to haunt Bush. As far as I'm concerned, nothing will happen to these guys until they are out of office. Then I hope all hell breaks loose on them.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by bostontricky

You don't think this was a little, um, swift?

Why swift? I think Bush didn't want to see Libby in jail. The appeals were exhausted.

Is it a disgrace? Uh...prolly not. I know there will be plenty of people out there infuriated and plenty uninfuriated, and if you really demand that justice be done and the Vanity Fair spies outing not be unavenged, well, arrest Richard Armitage. That was never likely; at least Libby going to jail looked likely.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Thank God the witch hunt is over. They wanted Bush or Cheney and got...somebody nobody ever heard of before this whole fiasco started.

[Dr Dave]

If there were any remaining doubt that the Bush presidency is over, this act erases it. Two years ago, this would have been political suicide. Now it's just another day at the office.

And, I'm sure, there's more to come. With no further interest in even giving the appearance of caring what the electorate thinks, and safe from the threat of impeachment, Bush can--and will--do whatever he feels like doing. Must be liberating, not having to worry about opinion polls any more.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Unfortunately you're right, and anmesty for illegal aliens is at the top of the list.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

If there were any remaining doubt that the Bush presidency is over, this act erases it. Two years ago, this would have been political suicide. Now it's just another day at the office.

And, I'm sure, there's more to come. With no further interest in even giving the appearance of caring what the electorate thinks, and safe from the threat of impeachment, Bush can--and will--do whatever he feels like doing. Must be liberating, not having to worry about opinion polls any more.

There you have it. The Bush presidency is over and there is more to come.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Why swift? I think Bush didn't want to see Libby in jail. The appeals were exhausted.

Is it a disgrace? Uh...prolly not. I know there will be plenty of people out there infuriated and plenty uninfuriated, and if you really demand that justice be done and the Vanity Fair spies outing not be unavenged, well, arrest Richard Armitage. That was never likely; at least Libby going to jail looked likely.

Bingo.

Besides, it's no bigger of a disgrace than the whole dog and pony show that led us to this point. Once the actual outing of Valerie Plame became irrelevent, so did this case.

So, once again for my good friend, TG:


*yawn*

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

There you have it. The Bush presidency is over and there is more to come.

There are days when I think it will never end.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Don't worry. There will be another idiot President in 2009, whoever he or she may be.

[GoodSpeak]

And Clinton was the bad guy regarding his pardons.


Crow, anyone?



Such bullshit.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Wozniak

Don't worry. There will be another idiot President in 2009, whoever he or she may be.

Nah.

The idiots are financed, puffed up, and rammed down our throats by the republican't's.


Then they steal the election....or manipulate it.


Check your history, big guy.

[Sandi22]

And no one expected it on this week of all weeks, while everyone loads up the SUV's and head for wherever they celebrate the 4TH?

By the time everyone returns, and spends a week recovering, this will again be such old news that some other happening will have popped up into their consciousness; to be on their minds; not this thing about Scooter and his Bosses. Actually, it's was a pity that it was only going to be Scooter paying for everyone elses ideas. The ones who are really guility of putting him in the position he willingly took on, are still sneering about, still doing at will what ever hits their fancy. And, as we all know, they keep getting away with it.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

You're right. The world was just itching to see some second-hand named Scooter go to jail...

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Wozniak

Don't worry. There will be another idiot President in 2009, whoever he or she may be.

Life must be bleak for you, Jeffrey.

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Not me. I just saved a ton of money by switching to Geico.

[Scott Dolan]

Hahahaha..........


That has to be in the running for zinger of the year!


And no shit from you, Finch. It was good, and you know it.

[Root Doctor]

I really hate it when Bush looks into Putin's soul and likes what he sees.

[Gary Sisco]

There's another part to that story that's not often told, I found out over the weekend. When Bush told Powell that "I looked into [Putin's] eyes and saw his soul." Powell responded, "Mr President, I looked into his eyes and saw the KGB."