Dustin Pruett-Extra Credit

Bush Uses His Political Power to Commute Libby’s Sentence

Washington DC- President Bush commuted the prison sentence of former White House
aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby. It happened after a federal appeals board
decided that Libby would have to start serving his 2.5 year prison term now.

Libby was convicted in March for lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative.

The leak case has hung over the White House for years. After CIA operative Valerie Plame's name appeared in a 2003 syndicated newspaper column, Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald questioned top administration officials, including Bush and Cheney, about their possible roles.

Nobody was ever charged with the leak, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Karl Rowe provided the information for the orginal article.

Prosecutors said Libby obstructed the investigation by lying about how he learned about Plame and whom he told. Libby was their by obstructing justice from happening and also lying under oath.

Plame believes Libby and other White House officials conspired to leak her identity to reporters in 2003 as retribution against her husband, Joseph Wilson, who criticized what he said was the administration's misleading use of prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Libby was the former chief of staff for vice president Dick Cheney and was spared a federal prison sentence but his conviction still stands in federal court.

Bush said in a statement "The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged," Bush said. "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."

Libby still has to pay 250,000 and serve a two years of probation for his actions. Libby isn’t getting pardon for his actions.

The reaction from democrats was harsh. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York said "As Independence Day nears, we are reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle.

Attorney William Jeffress said he had spoken to Libby briefly by phone and "I'm happy at least that Scooter will be spared any prison time. ... The prison sentence was imminent but obviously the conviction itself is a heavy blow to Scooter."

It is still a big issue in the news if President Bush will pardon Scooter Libby after his term ends up in 2008. Critics believe that he will be pardon because of the longtime friendship between Libby and President Bush.