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!@#$%! · 06.05.2007, 08:11 PM

Bush's pardon dilemma:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...060501275.html

Bush Faces Libby Pardon Dilemma
By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 5, 2007; 5:44 PM

The 2-1/2 year sentence imposed on former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby today puts new pressure on President Bush, who may soon confront the choice of triggering a fresh political storm by pardoning a convicted perjurer or letting one of the early architects of his administration head off to prison.

Libby, who served as assistant to the president and chief of staff to Vice President Cheney until his indictment in late 2005, was ordered to serve 30 months behind bars and pay a $250,000 fine for committing perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak case. But most disturbing to the White House may be comments by the judge indicating that he is inclined to order Libby to begin serving the sentence right away.

If Libby were allowed to remain free pending appeals, as occurs in many white-collar criminal cases, the White House might be able to defer the question of a pardon until after the November 2008 elections, when it would be less politically risky.

But U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said in court today that he doubts Libby has a viable appeal. "I just don't see it," he said. And therefore, Walton suggested, he would force Libby to report to prison unless his lawyers can change his mind at a hearing next week.

The looming prospect of Libby turning in his dark business suit for a prison jumpsuit instantly rallied his supporters to lobby the White House for a pardon. National Review, the conservative magazine, posted an editorial on its Web site less than an hour after the sentence headlined, "Pardon Him." The magazine argued that Libby had been "found guilty of process crimes" when the special prosecutor never brought charges relating to the original leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame's name, which spawned the case.

etc etc...

06.05.2007, 08:11 PM	#4
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,731	Bush's pardon dilemma: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...060501275.html Bush Faces Libby Pardon Dilemma By Peter Baker Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, June 5, 2007; 5:44 PM The 2-1/2 year sentence imposed on former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby today puts new pressure on President Bush, who may soon confront the choice of triggering a fresh political storm by pardoning a convicted perjurer or letting one of the early architects of his administration head off to prison. Libby, who served as assistant to the president and chief of staff to Vice President Cheney until his indictment in late 2005, was ordered to serve 30 months behind bars and pay a $250,000 fine for committing perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak case. But most disturbing to the White House may be comments by the judge indicating that he is inclined to order Libby to begin serving the sentence right away. If Libby were allowed to remain free pending appeals, as occurs in many white-collar criminal cases, the White House might be able to defer the question of a pardon until after the November 2008 elections, when it would be less politically risky. But U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said in court today that he doubts Libby has a viable appeal. "I just don't see it," he said. And therefore, Walton suggested, he would force Libby to report to prison unless his lawyers can change his mind at a hearing next week. The looming prospect of Libby turning in his dark business suit for a prison jumpsuit instantly rallied his supporters to lobby the White House for a pardon. National Review, the conservative magazine, posted an editorial on its Web site less than an hour after the sentence headlined, "Pardon Him." The magazine argued that Libby had been "found guilty of process crimes" when the special prosecutor never brought charges relating to the original leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame's name, which spawned the case. etc etc...
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