Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Bush Administration's Media Manipulation--MediaGate? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JBTFD who wrote (9751)	7/2/2007 7:28:52 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9838

About time! Bush commutes Libby's prison sentence Story Highlights White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby faced 30 months in prison Libby will not serve that sentence but will pay $250,000 fine Libby convicted in relation to investigation into 2003 leak of CIA operative's identity Bush called 30 months in prison "excessive" WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush has commuted the prison term of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, facing 30 months in prison after a federal court convicted him of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators. Bush commuted the jail sentence of convicted White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Earlier Monday, a federal appeals court unanimously ruled that Libby could not delay his sentence. The charges relate to the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Libby was only weeks away from surrendering to a prison. Bush was under great pressure by Libby allies to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. In a written statement issued hours after that ruling, Bush called the sentence "excessive." But he also rejected calls for a pardon for Libby. "The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting," Bush said. But he said Libby was given "a harsh sentence based in part on allegations never presented to the jury." Libby was the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair. The conviction remains on Libby's record and he still has to pay a $250,000 fine. Commutations are rarely granted, says CNN's chief legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. A commutation is a total right of the president and it cannot be challenged by any attorney or court, he said. It means that Libby will still have the conviction on his record -- unless he is able to overturn it on appeal, which he will likely continue to pursue. A pardon is a complete eradication of a conviction record, making it appear as if the person has never been convicted. It's possible that Bush could still grant Libby a full pardon.