"Scooter" Libby Gets 30 Months In Jail

Former White House Aide Faces Prison For Role In CIA Leak

(CBS/AP)  Libby's attorneys sought no jail time. They argued that it was unfair to increase the sentence simply because of the nature of the investigation, particularly because Fitzgerald never proved the leak was a crime.

"No one was ever charged. Nobody ever pleaded guilty," attorney William Jeffress said. "The government did not establish the existence of an offense."

In support of Libby's bid for probation, many prominent people wrote letters to Walton. Among the letter writers were: former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld; Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.

"My hope and prayer is that his outstanding record, his many contributions to our country and his value as a citizen, will be considered carefully," Rumsfeld wrote.

"He pursued his objectives with integrity and a sense of responsibility," Kissinger said. "I would never have associated the actions for which he was convicted with his character."

However, not all the letters were supportive of Libby. One message expressed anger over the lack of punishment for Cheney and White House political adviser Karl Rove: "(Libby) was the puppet, but they pulled the strings."

Another letter stated, "When we average Americans tell our children about things like this, we need to be able to impress upon them that the law should apply to all ... even the rich, powerful and connected."

Probation officers had recommend a sentencing range of 15 to 21 months, but left open the possibility that defense attorneys could argue for less.

Libby was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury to the grand jury and one count of lying to the FBI about how he learned Plame's identity and whom he told. The verdict came after a seven-week trial that focused new attention on the Bush administration's much-criticized handling of intelligence reports about weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the Iraq war.

In the end, jurors said they did not believe Libby's main defense: that he hadn't lied but merely had a bad memory.

Their decisions made Libby the highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since National Security Adviser John Poindexter in the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago.

Libby, an attorney, "was not convicted of some random crime," Cohen said. "He was convicted of something that not only goes to the heart of what it means to be a lawyer but what it means to hold high office, too. He was convicted of subverting the very rule of law he was sworn to uphold."

Walton put the sentence on hold until he could hear legal analysis from probation officials about the way the sentence was structured technically. Walton said he would make the sentence official next week.

The case cost Cheney his most trusted adviser, and the trial revealed Cheney's personal obsession with criticism of the war's justification.

It was Cheney who first revealed Plame's identity to Libby in June 2003 after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, began questioning the administration's prewar intelligence. Several other officials testified that they, too, discussed the CIA operative with Libby as Wilson's criticism mounted.

Libby says he forgot those conversations and was surprised to learn about Plame a month later from NBC newsman Tim Russert. Russert, the government's star witness at trial, testified the two men never discussed Plame. Fitzgerald said Libby concocted the Russert story to shield him from prosecution for improperly handling classified information.

Libby was not charged with leaking Plame's identity, nor were the two initial sources of the leak — Rove and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Libby's supporters criticized Fitzgerald for pushing ahead with the investigation despite knowing the source of the leak early on. Fitzgerald said he needed to know whether the leak was authorized by senior government officials and spoke in court about "a cloud" over Cheney.

Though the trial is over, the legal fight over the leak continues. Plame and Wilson are suing Libby, Cheney and other senior Bush administration officials for violating their privacy rights. A judge is considering whether to dismiss the lawsuit.

Plame is also suing the CIA for allegedly holding up publication of her memoir, in which she wants to discuss details about her 20-year career at the intelligence agency. CIA officials say the material she wants to publish is classified.

[starleo146]

Relax neocons he will not see 1 day in prison. He will file an appeal and stay out of prison while that is going on and Pres. Bush said he won't intervene AT THIS TIME. If by some chance he goes to prison Bush will PARDON him you can bet the house on it. This is a joke and the administration knew it all along and so did everyone else he went to this trial as a sacrificial lamb for Cheney and did his job and will not serve a day.

[georgew1956]

treason its plain to see cheany is running the show and the money from big oil is running to the country's courts too. two and half years

[gkc99]

What evidence is there that Armitage leaked it? He said so, but the way you tell a Bushshyte is lying is by his or her lips moving.

Just another Mafia soldier taking the hit for Il Capo.

[mcvet]

go call the ACLU and ask the liberals to nominate you for a noble prize..its fun to be a criminal
Posted by xzavierbrown at 12:02 AM : Jun 06, 2007
+ report abuse

What the "F" are you babbling about? You Fascist don't have a clue, of this we all know, but the terrible thing is you don't want one. Which "liberal's" are you referring to Swastika Breath? Truman? Kennedy? FDR? Lincoln? Teddy? Jefferson? When you spew hate a "Liberals" you spew hate at ALL the greatest in American History!

[rushlimpdrug]

"Scooter" Libby - 30 months in jail-
a grown man that goes by the nickname "Scooter"
going to jail?
Hope he doesn't drop the soap like he drops names.

[ubrew12]

"Maybe some Republicans can explain why Libby lied if he wasn't the one who released the information about Plame?" Posted by mcdazz at 12:29 AM : Jun 06, 2007

Can't help you there. He clearly felt the need to cover up for SOMEBODY. I think Fitzgerald prosecuted what he could after catching someone in a lie, because they were ALL lying, only some more successfully than others. The real story here is that they (the administration) got away with exposing a CIA agents identity to silence her husband, and Fitzgerald prosecuted the bone that was thrown to him.

The only lesson learned is that its OK to lie. Not a lesson Republicans should be teaching the public at large, but one that has been delivered anyway. Its amazing to hear Right Wing pundits get after Rap culture for being willing to lie to the cops about crime, and not realize that the people we most look up to are setting the example by doing it all the time. Clearly, gang rules apply, even in the White House.

[firststate]

Libby's lies and obstruction of justice earned him 30 months. Gonzales' lies and obstruction of justice should get him considerably longer. Bush's lies and other high crimes would earn longer than the life expectancy for an American male, but he should have the opportunity to do as much time as he has left for them.

hamiltongrad wrote:

"This is a terrible set up, The prosecuter already knew who leaked - ARMITAGE, but tried to trap this poor man, S.Libby in saying something that was not fully right. ANYONE smell a rat here ?

This is an outrage."

I smell many - Bush, Cheney, Libby, Rice, etc etc.

Oh, and Libby wasn't on trial because he leaked the information about Plame, he was on trial because he lied to investigators and tried to obstruct the investigation.

For some reason, Republicans don't seem to understand that Libby's own stupidity and actions have put him in this position.

But if it was truly Armitage who revealed the information, then Libby had no reason to lie or obstruct the investigation.

Maybe some Republicans can explain why Libby lied if he wasn't the one who released the information about Plame?

CBS Wrote:

"Cheney, who said he was "saddened" by the verdict, described Libby in a statement as a man "of the highest intellect, judgment and personal integrity %u2014 a man fully committed to protecting the vital security interests of the United States and its citizens.""

Clearly, his high intellect, judgment and personal integrity weren't present on the numerous occasions he lied and attempted to obstruct the investigation.

And that's why he deserves to be punished for his crime.

But who was he protecting? Himself? Cheney? Bush?

Why lie if he (or the others) played no part in the Plame affair.

I say we should give him a dose of waterboarding and the other "leisure pursuits" that the Republicans claim aren't torture.

After all, if they aren't torture, then the Republicans should have no problem with Libby being waterboarded, strung up by the arms, or having objects inserted into various parts of his body.

Maybe then we'll find out some real answers.

[xzavierbrown]

go call the ACLU and ask the liberals to nominate you for a noble prize..its fun to be a criminal

[wfbdem]

And if you believe in it so much, then why aren't you in Iraq fighting? Why are you allowing others to sacrifice their lives fighting for your ideals?

Are you too old? Too fat? Or just too scared?
Posted by mcdazz at 06:22 PM : Jun 05, 2007


Most conservatives are yellow elephants. All talk, no courage. Most military personal, who serve during a time of war come out as liberals. Not so much in times of peace, but if you put them in during a hot war, just like thjey say there are no atheists in a foxhole, there are no republican veterans from a war. I went in as one, but a came out with my eyes open. Same went for 80% of my company. And most vets, from a real shooting war, feel the same.
Neo-cons, do not support our troops. They feel it is "too expensive". Better lower taxes, than support our troops. And this is from experience.

[fairandbal]

It's amazing that someone could only get 2.5 years for treason.

[pepperp1]

Libby%u2019s lie delayed the public knowledge that the administration had leaked the name of a covert officer in possible retaliation for her work as a covert CIA Officer on WMD%u2019s or because of her husbands Ambassador Wilson criticism of the administration use of forged pre war Niger intelligence, until after the election. The judge should have thrown the book at him and lock him up now, and Mr. Libby, no thank you for your public service we would have been much better off with out it.

[lastdance2]

If Pres. Bush doesn't interfere.
VP Cheney will ! ! !

After All

"You are who - Your friends are ! ! !

Lastdance

[cdfoxtrot]

I'd like to say to Libby and his supporters what our great VP once said to a Senator on the floor of the senate: Go F*** yourself.

[jacksteen1]

I guess in "DickCheney'sWorld," Libby is a man of "...hign moral intellect and personal integrity." In the REAL WORLD, he is a thief and a liar.

What a sad commentary on the men the Ignorant Cracker Bible Suckers chose to lead our Nation.

[bareemperor]

The HUGE question is:

Why no outrage from the 'free' press on this, seems like it would be a m*therf*cker of a news story!
Yet, outing a CIA agent during a 'time of war' is a ho-hum occurrence in buSHAMErica...
In other times, in other administrations, there would be Deep Cleaning, but our VP says he 'was "saddened" by the verdict', and not a peep from the President of the United States...

[kansas1946]

It is deja 'vu all over again. "All The President's Men." Loyalists going to jail for trying to protect a corrupt president and vice president. They should all be in jail, including Rove.

[formrusmcsgt]

Cheney, who said he was "saddened" by the verdict, described Libby in a statement as a man "of the highest intellect, judgment and personal integrity...

------

Obviously, the judge did not concur with Cheney's opinion.

tylenol6 wrote:

"Oh please don't make me laugh. I'm sure there is
a bush/cheney sneaky plan that appeals will be made
and then the big PARDON gets Libby off. I really
don't know why Bush just dosen't pardon him now,
because it really dosen't matter. Bush's poll numbers are in the 28's and aren't going up. I do
notice abc, cbs and cnn all make Bush's poll numbers
around in the low 3o-35."

GW Bush will pardon Libby just before he leaves office.

I guarantee it.