PARDON ME?

President George W. Bush thinking that the sentence of Scooter Libby was “too harsh” stepped in and granted Libby a Presidential Pardon. Libby will now be spared the 2 ½ year prison sentence but will still have to pay the $250,000.00 fine and will remain on probation for 2 years.

President Bush said that although he respects the jury’s verdict he has concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby to be excessive. “Therefore I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend 30 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.”

Libby was convicted earlier this year of lying to authorities and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative’s identity.