- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Bush "Stands By" Decision to Commute Libby Prison Term
Email
ShareJuly 03, 2007 1:08 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Duck Reports: A day after commuting former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's 2½-year prison term in the CIA leak case, President Bush refused to rule out an eventual Libby pardon.
In a statement to the travel press pool, Bush said: "I had to make a very difficult decision. I weighed this decision carefully. I thought that the jury verdict should stand. I felt the punishment was severe, so I made decision that would commute his sentence but leave in place a serious fine and probation. As to the future I’m, you know, rule nothing in or nothing out."
Bush continued, "I took this decision very seriously on Mr. Libby. I considered his background, his service to the country as well as the jury verdict. I felt like the jury verdict ought to stand, and I felt like some of the punishments that the judge determined were adequate should stand. But I felt like the 30-month sentencing severe; made a judgment, a considered judgment that I believe was right decision to make in this case, and I stand by it."
Watch the video HERE.
July 3, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (4)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I wonder whyKing George waited until Libby was going to actually have to go to jail, having lost his case in court to stay out pending appeal.......... with a conservative judge no less, to commute the sentence? If the sentence was so severe, and the term to long, why not commute it the day after it was handed down? Why not take a stand then? Why not be that person of integrity that he pretends to be? Why not just pardon him and get it over with? I guess he'll wait to do that until he actually loses the appeal and has to pay the fine. It's pure politics folks. The Pres has no compassion and even less integrity. Thankfully we'll be done with Republicans come next election. Hopefully we'll be done with all incumbents period!!!!!!
Posted by: DK in PA | Jul 4, 2007 7:39:45 AM
There are no words in the English language to describe the constant level of atrocity commited by this administration. But they are consistant.
Posted by: sandra l | Jul 4, 2007 2:09:37 PM
This is the legacy of history: it repeats itself. This is not this first time someone "bad" gets pardoned when he should not have. That is the given power of the president to give presidential pardon. Ford did it for Nixon, and that was a FULL pardon of his Watergate scandal. We really need to stand back and really see the full picture here. If you don't want them to pardon who they want, then don't give them the power to do it. It is his right to do so and really needs no explanation for it. You don't like it, write your congressman.
Posted by: Amber | Jul 4, 2007 2:54:33 PM
Bush gives a whole new meaning to "stand by your man".
Posted by: Ron | Jul 6, 2007 2:16:34 PM
Post a comment
