News / Politics
Libby found guilty- sentenced 2 ½ years in jail
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former White House aide, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison Tuesday. He was convicted of lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation. Libby was the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Cheney left the courthouse with out commenting after the judge said the evidence "overwhelmingly" proved Libby was guilty. Cheney later issued a statement saying he was "deeply saddened by this tragedy." President Bush only said that he felt sorry for Libby’s family and commented no further on the case.
"I relied on him heavily in my capacity as secretary of defense and as vice president," Cheney said. "The defense has indicated it plans to appeal the conviction in the case. Speaking as friends, we hope that our system will return a final result consistent with what we know of this fine man."
Libby was accused of obstructing the 2003 investigation of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity leak. Libby is now known as the highest ranking official in the White House convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra affair. Throughout the investigation he has maintained his innocence, saying to the court "It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life."
U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton has not set a date by which Libby must report to jail. He fined Libby $250,000 and put him on 2 years of probation following his release form prison in 2 ½ years. U.S. Bureau of Prisons is deciding where Libby will serve his time and when he will report.
"People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem," Judge Walton said.
Libby, with the help of letters of support from former military commanders and White House and State Department officials, requested no jail time. The letters pointed out ways in which Libby helped the government win the Cold War and the first Gulf War.
Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald requested Libby serve 3 years in prison he says because, "We need to make the statement that the truth matters ever so much."
Libby’s attorney argued that he should not have to serve any jail time because the defense never proved that the leak was a crime. Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld supports Libby’s plead for probation. He and other prominent people of government wrote letters to Walton in support of Libby. Rumsfeld wrote "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."
Although Libby was not charged with leaking Plame’s identity he was convicted of two counts of perjury to the grand jury, one count of lying to the FBI about how he found out the CIA agents identity and who he told, and one count of obstruction of justice. Walton said he would make the ruling official some time next week.
In June 2003 Cheney revealed Plame’s identity to Libby. Other officials admitted that they also discussed Plame’s identity with Libby after Plame’s husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the administrations "prewar" intelligence.
The trial is over but the battle still continues. Libby, Cheney, and other Bush administrators are being sued by Plame and Wilson for violation of their rights.
