Conyers Wants Bush To Waive Executive Privilege For Libby Hearing

In a letter sent to President Bush on Friday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) has asked President  Bush to waive executive privilege and allow testimony from White House aides, as well as turning over any documents, related to Bush's decision to commute the jail sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Libby was convicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to investigation of who outed former CIA operative Valerie Plame. He received a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, which Bush commuted last week, calling the sentence "excessive." Libby was the former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney.

The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday to examine what role, if any, Cheney had in Bush's decision on Libby, as well why Bush thought the sentence was "excessive" and whether Libby received "assurances" from White House officials that he "would be protected from jail time through clemency."