Libby Sentenced to 30 Months in Jail

[GoodEnoughForMe]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison for lying to investigators about what he told reporters about CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose name was leaked to the media in 2003.

He also was fined $250,000. Libby was convicted March 6 of four counts in a five-count indictment alleging perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI investigators. He plans to appeal the verdict.

Libby was found guilty in March of lying to investigators about what he told reporters about Valerie Plame, whose identity as a CIA operative was leaked to the media in 2003.

Libby has maintained his innocence ever since he was indicted and resigned in October 2005.

On Tuesday, the judge released dozens of letters written to him by Libby's supporters and detractors, including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton.

In one letter, Robert Blackwill, who served as presidential envoy to Iraq and in several other posts under President Bush, said he has known Libby for 20 years.

"During these years at the White House, I encountered no one more driven by analytical temperament, fairness of mind and sound policy reasoning than Scooter Libby," Blackwill said.

"Mr. Libby in my judgment has been, over the decades, an exemplary public policy practitioner."

Another person, whose signature was redacted, wrote, "I am writing to urge that Scooter Libby receive the maximum possible sentence. Due to the crimes for which he was convicted, we may never know of the more substantial criminal activities for which he served as a firewall."

The case involves statements Libby made to the FBI and a grand jury during their probe into how the covert identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked. Libby was the only person charged in the probe. He was not accused of actually leaking classified material.

Plame's name became public when Robert Novak named her in his column on July 14, 2003. Her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, had openly questioned the Bush administration's basis for invading Iraq. (Timeline of key events in investigation)

Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has admitted he disclosed the information to a reporter. Novak pointed to another "senior administration official" -- Bush political adviser Karl Rove -- as the second source for his column.

After the jury returned its verdict against Libby on March 6, lead defense attorney Ted Wells appeared on the courthouse steps with Libby and his other attorneys and declared, "We have every confidence Mr. Libby ultimately will be vindicated." Wells said he believes his client is "totally innocent and that he did not do anything wrong."

Cheney has continued to express support and empathy for his former chief of staff, and it's possible Libby could be granted a presidential pardon before the end of President Bush's term.

How can Cheney still defend Libby so ardently? This is just another example of administrative incompetence. Corrupt and deceitful as usual.

 

[Godwynn]

He should get 235 years and a jail cell with Jefferson.

 

[.Shane.]

How can Cheney still defend Libby so ardently?

Because he was a good soldier and took the hit for the team.

 

[LucyDuke]

So where do we bet on when the pardon will be?

 

[.Shane.]

So where do we bet on when the pardon will be?

Sometime after the 08' election.

HEY! How come it wasn't pointed out in the title that he's an OMGZ REPUBLICAN!

 

[LordRahl]

Traitors deserve a bullet in their heads.

 

[MobBoss]

He should get 235 years and a jail cell with Jefferson.

Why? Because he couldnt recall word for word a conversation he had literally years in the past?

Please.

Libby perjured himself on the stand and never could get his story straight. Thats it. He wasnt convicted of anything else really. Hell, even the jurors in this case felt sorry for him as they thought he was a nice guy; he just couldnt get his story straight on what happened years ago in regards to the Plame issue.

 

[Godwynn]

Why? Because he couldnt recall word for word a conversation he had literally years in the past?

Please.

He was convicted. Have you lost faith in the American justice system?

 

[MobBoss]

He was convicted. Have you lost faith in the American justice system?

He absolutely was convicted. For what again? Oh. Not being able to have a good enough memory to recall what the hell he said, when.

He wasnt convicted of outing Valerie Plame. No one was.

As for my faith in the American Justice System....it remains intact. I fully acknowledge that sometimes innocent people get the raw deal; but its better than any alternative out there.

 

[JollyRoger]

Why? Because he couldnt recall word for word a conversation he had literally years in the past?

Please.

Actually, if you had followed the case more closely, you would know that he was convicted for something more serious that not recalling. If "not recall" were the standard, then you would have most of the recent leadership of the Justice Department in jail. The "couldn't recall word for word a conversation he had literaaly years in the past" was a defense that was tried by his lawyer that failed miserably and predicably.

Libby perjured himself on the stand and never could get his story straight. Thats it. He wasnt convicted of anything else really. Hell, even the jurors in this case felt sorry for him as they thought he was a nice guy; he just couldnt get his story straight on what happened years ago in regards to the Plame issue.

Nope, it wasn't a mater of him not being able to get his story straight - it was a matter of him not being able to get his story coordianted with the witnesses that were telling the truth. Even Karl Rove made it a point to go back to the Grand Jury a fifth tiome to properly coordinate his story. Too bad for Libby that Rove decided to sandbag Libby instead of clue him in. The jury felt sorry for him because not even his boss, Dick Cheney was willing to testify in his defense, even though Libby's lawyer hinted that he might.

 

[JollyRoger]

He absolutely was convicted. For what again?

Perjury and Obstruction of Justice. Five counts. Lucky for him that the Judge is soft on crime and letting him serve his sentences concurrently rqather than consectutively.

 

[Godwynn]

He absolutely was convicted. For what again? Oh. Not being able to have a good enough memory to recall what the hell he said, when.

He wasnt convicted of outing Valerie Plame. No one was.

So....

He was convicted, by a jury I presume? I have no idea how trials work in these cases.

I guess we could just throw him in jail and not let him see a lawyer for years.

 

[MobBoss]

Perjury and Obstruction of Justice. Five counts.

Try reading the story. He had five counts against him, was convicted on four.

Libby was convicted March 6 of four counts in a five-count indictment

 

[JollyRoger]

Try reading the story. He had five counts against him, was convicted on four.

Wow. Let him walk. He only was convicted of 4 crimes.

 

[MobBoss]

Wow. Let him walk. He only was convicted of 4 crimes.

Yeah, its all a big conspriacy......Libby was covering for everyone....

 

[JollyRoger]

Yeah, its all a big conspriacy......Libby was covering for everyone....

Nope. He perjured himself and obstructed justice. That's why he is going to jail.

 

[skadistic]

So who was convicted of the original crime of leaking Plames name?......... No one? Why? Because it wasn't a crime? I'm sure Scotter was covering up a non-existent crime.

 

[GoodGame]

30 days in jail sounds like a pardon to me. Maybe he can get a cell next to Paris Hilton?

The $250,000 would make me cry, however.

So where do we bet on when the pardon will be?

 

[MobBoss]

So who was convicted of the original crime of leaking Plames name?......... No one? Why? Because it wasn't a crime? I'm sure Scotter was covering up a non-existent crime.

No. No one is going to jail for that because there wasnt sufficient evidence to convict anyone on it.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Why? Because he couldnt recall word for word a conversation he had literally years in the past?

Please.

Libby perjured himself on the stand and never could get his story straight. Thats it. He wasnt convicted of anything else really. Hell, even the jurors in this case felt sorry for him as they thought he was a nice guy; he just couldnt get his story straight on what happened years ago in regards to the Plame issue.

he was asked 15 times on numerous seperate occasion. After which he claimed to have forgotten about it.

Iam not suprised you chose to defend him but for crying out loud at least know about the fifteen occasions before defending him.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald had requested that Libby receive a sentence of 2 1/2 to 3 years, while Libby’s lawyers had asked for no prison time.

Libby received 30 months for obstruction of justice, but he received 15 months on other charges. The sentences will be served concurrently.