President Bush Saves Scooter Libby from Jail with Grant of Executive Clemency!Libs In A Rage!
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Every so often the “right thing” gets done! (I know… terrible grammar, etc.!) Of course we speak of President Bush’s issuing Executive Clemency for Scooter Libby. It was the RIGHT THING TO DO! A Full Pardon would be even better and I expect that is in the offing.
In sparing Libby from jail, the President said this:
"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." The President went on to say: "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."
Every so often the “right thing” gets done! (I know… terrible grammar, etc.!) Of course we speak of President Bush’s issuing Executive Clemency for Scooter Libby. It was the RIGHT THING TO DO! A Full Pardon would be even better and I expect that is in the offing.
In sparing Libby from jail, the President said this:
"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." The President went on to say: "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."
There still remains the $250,000 fine and two years' probation for Libby’s conviction of lying and obstructing justice in a probe into the leak of a CIA operative's identity.
In not wiping the slate clean for Libby, the President said this: "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."
The commutation of Libby’s sentence has, of course, enraged the Democrats. That’s the OTHER good thing about it. Frankly, I’m still not satisfied. I am still of the mind that the President should have granted a full pardon to Libby. A full pardon would have cleansed his criminal record entirely. As we understand Presidential Pardons… that could still be done, at a later date, by the President, and we urge President Bush to do so.
As I said the Dems are enraged. So… what else is new? I had thought about including some of their “pity-pot” comments here … but, frankly, I really don’t care what they have to say!
No body was ever charged with the leak.
Oh, and by the way... Bill Clinton issued 140 pardons and a few commutations in one day! ... his last day in office January 20th 2001! Want to see who he pardoned and what their convicrion was for? Just go here... to the US Justice Department's website and there they are... all listed in alphabetical order for you:
Longstreet
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He's still a convicted felon.... Part of the pardon requiremnets is an admission of guilt so, so is Oliver North, and all the last minute pardons that kept Iran/Contra and illegal drug smuggling (into the U.S.) under the Regan administration under wraps.... The Republican party is just so ammoral and dirty....
ReplyDeleteLibby was NOT pardoned! His jail term was commuted. With a pardon, your record is wiped clean for that conviction. You are not a felon after a pardon.
ReplyDeleteOh, Clinton issued 140 pardons as well as several commutations on his last day in office (January 20, 2001).
If you want to see whom he pardoned and what the conviction was for… go here:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm
Best regards!
Longstreet