[R-G] A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

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http://www.signs-of-the-times.org/articles/show/135780-All+in+the+Crime+Family:+Bush+commutes+sentence+for+Libby;+Did+we+expect+otherwise?

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Of all the forms of murder, none is more monstrous than that committed by a
state against its own citizens... The homicidal state shares one trait with
the solitary killer--like all murderers, it trips on its own egoism and
drops a trail of clues which, when properly collected, preserved and
analyzed are as damning as a signed confession left in the grave.

Forensic anthropologist Clyde Snow, speaking before the May, 1984 meeting of
the American Association for the Advancement of Science.


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.

Grant of Executive Clemency


A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

WHEREAS Lewis Libby was convicted in the United States District Court for
the District of Columbia in the case United States v. Libby, Crim. No.
05-394 (RBW), for which a sentence of 30 months' imprisonment, 2 years'
supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $400 was
imposed on June 22, 2007;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, pursuant to my powers under Article II, Section 2, of the
Constitution, do hereby commute the prison terms imposed by the sentence
upon the said Lewis Libby to expire immediately, leaving intact and in
effect the two-year term of supervised release, with all its conditions, and
all other components of the sentence.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of July, in
the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH


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.

Bush's move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not
delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. That decision put the pressure
on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to
pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the
investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative's identity. He was the
highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra
affair.

Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence

By MATT APUZZO

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush commuted the sentence of former White House
aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby on Monday, sparing him from a 2 1/2-year
prison term that Bush said was excessive. Bush's move came hours after a
federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA
leak case.

That meant Libby was likely to have to report to prison soon and put new
pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies
to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

"I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement. "But I have
concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive.
Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required
him to spend thirty months in prison."

Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, and Bush
said his action still "leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby."

Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the
investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative's identity. He was the
highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra
affair.

Bush said of Cheney's former aide: "The reputation he gained through his
years of public service and professional work in the legal community is
forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely.
He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will
remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former
life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting."

Statement by the President

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today rejected Lewis
Libby's request to remain free on bail while pursuing his appeals for the
serious convictions of perjury and obstruction of justice. As a result, Mr.
Libby will be required to turn himself over to the Bureau of Prisons to
begin serving his prison sentence.

I have said throughout this process that it would not be appropriate to
comment or intervene in this case until Mr. Libby's appeals have been
exhausted. But with the denial of bail being upheld and incarceration
imminent, I believe it is now important to react to that decision.