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July 3, 2007

Update: Whitehouse, Reed blast Bush over Libby

Rhode Island's U.S. senators were blunt today in their criticism of President Bush’s commutation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s prison sentence.

Sen. Jack Reed this afternoon called it “wrong” and said he was disappointed that Mr. Bush “dismissed the will of our criminal justice system.”

Fellow Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse labeled the commutation “shocking and highly inappropriate.”

Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who has been active in the panel’s inquiry into the administration’s firing of several U.S. attorneys, sought to portray the Libby commutation as part of a pattern.

"From a secret program that eavesdropped on Americans without a warrant to efforts to expose a CIA agent as part of a campaign of political retaliation, at every turn this administration has shown a level of contempt for our system of justice that is Nixonian in its scope and impact,’’ Whitehouse said in a press release issued last night.

Libby, Vice President Cheney’s former chief of staff, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his testimony to federal investigators about the leak of a CIA official’s identity to the press. Mr. Bush did not pardon Libby for those crimes but commuted his 30-month prison sentence, deeming it "excessive." The underlying investigation of the leak of the CIA agent’s identity did not lead to any criminal charges.

-- John Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau, with reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

"At a time when the Bush administration's commitment to justice is in serious doubt, for the president to choose to overrule the decision of a judge in a court of law to protect a political ally is a telling statement that he and his advisors simply believe themselves to be above the law,’’ Whitehouse said in his statement.

Reed is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which oversees federal spending on the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“Just because the president has the right to commute a criminal sentence doesn’t mean he did the right thing,” Reed said in his statement.

“Scooter Libby was convicted by a jury on four counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI investigators. These are serious crimes, and I was disappointed that President Bush dismissed the will of our criminal justice system. It was wrong for Bush Administration officials to out an undercover CIA agent, it was wrong for them to engage in a cover up, and President Bush is wrong to let Mr. Libby off the hook for breaking the law.”

Posted by Jack Perry at 4:52 PM | Permalink

Comments

Where was Shelly's outrage at Clinton's 140 pardons and commutations?

Greg | July 3, 2007 8:46 AM link

I tried to comment on your survey on the commutation and after I wrote my post and voted, I got a message that "You have already voted in this survey. Only one vote allowed per person." But there are NO comments on this survey. How can I have already voted on something that just happened? Did you dust off an old one?

What I said was that I have taken down my flag and won't fly it again till this gang of thugs is gone. This is no longer the land of freedome and justice for all. I will not celebrate American tomorrow, I will mourn her. This president has become a dictator.

Harry Haller | July 3, 2007 9:38 AM link

Martha Stewart served her time, why not "Scooter" Libby?

William L. Drapeau | July 3, 2007 10:35 AM link

The only comment you approved here is the official talking point from the Republican National Committee. Way to go , projo.

Harry Haller | July 3, 2007 10:56 AM link

I'm sure he would have been equally shocked to find the gambling at the back of Rick's Cafe along with M. Reynaud.

This is our senator, feigning outrage while his wife accepts a lucrative "consulting" position with the general assembly.

Senator: You are a hack and nothing more.

dr. rick | July 3, 2007 10:58 AM link

I thought you were going to someone different. Just more of the same old thing. "Typically Political!" You haven't learned anything. Learn something from your Senior Senator. Watch him & learn.

Bob Cook | July 3, 2007 12:38 PM link

IMPEACH!!!

Twinklee | July 3, 2007 12:52 PM link

is anyone truly surprised that the thug in chief would pardon his boy? the whole gruop of them would be in prison if the system really worked.

george | July 3, 2007 1:04 PM link

There is no justice in this country unless you are connected or rich.

Luke | July 3, 2007 2:45 PM link

Apparantly Whitehouse has a very short memory. How many thugs did Bill Clinton pardon? Impeach Whitehouse for impersonating a senator.

steve a | July 3, 2007 2:48 PM link

Why does an empty suit like Sheldon Whitehouse, who cares moe about illegal aliens and their relatives who live abroad, than US CITIZENS, have the audacity to take cheap shots at Bush, when he should be turn his anger and hostility to Islamic terrorists, a group he seems to have only indifference to?

Paul Tarullo | July 3, 2007 4:48 PM link

Uh, anyone see how many hundreds of people "Slick Willy" Clinton granted clemency to and pardoned? He pardoned, WELL over 200...never mind clemency.

G-Dub - 7
Slick Willy - 250+

From the Dept Of Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm

VTM | July 3, 2007 6:33 PM link

People go to prison constantly for a very long time for far less serious offenses than what Libby did
How fair is that?

Greg | July 3, 2007 8:07 PM link

I think before the Democrats point fingers at the Whitehouse or the Republicans, they should look in the mirror....One lying Democrat equals one lying Republican. This comes from a disgusted legal immigrant!!!!

Gordon | July 3, 2007 9:01 PM link

July 3, 2007

Update: Whitehouse, Reed blast Bush over Libby

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