Libby's Sentence Commuted

By Steve Benen

(Political Animal)  LIBBY'S SENTENCE COMMUTED....Breaking:

President Bush commuted the sentence of former aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Monday, sparing him from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case.Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, according to a senior White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced.

"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," Bush said in a statement. "I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive."

TPMM has the full White House statement.

Remember a month ago when the White House insisted that the president was "not going to intervene"? That's no longer operative.