Woman convicted of perjury seeks a commutation

[Ian David]

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff | July 11, 2007

She has no friends in the White House. She describes herself as a regular, middle-class American who works, pays her taxes, and is devoted to her two young children.

But Joanne "Jody" Richardson, 41, of Tyngsborough, has plenty in common with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff.

Like Libby, Richardson was convicted of perjury for lying to a federal grand jury. Both have careers that have been ruined and families that have suffered from the public ordeal of a trial.

Yet, while President Bush commuted Libby's 30-month prison term last week, calling it excessive, the government is fighting to send Richardson, a former account manager for a pharmaceutical company, to prison.

<snip>

"I was mad that he would be able to get his prison sentence to go away when I had been fighting for five years," said Richardson, who is urging the government to look at the circumstances of her case, just as Bush did for Libby. "People like me go to prison every day, and people like him don't."

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/07/11/woman_convicted_of_perjury_seeks_a_commutation/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[liberal N proud]

1. Should be good to demonstrate the two tiered justice system in this country

When she doesn't get a commutation following Scooters get out of jail free card, then we need to publicize this through out the land.

[rodeodance]

3. just part of the TWO America's-including health care

[Wiccan Warrior]

2. I can't wait to see more of this

:popcorn: :beer:

[blondeatlast]

4. Pass the salt, please. Defense lawyers are going to invoke this

endlessly--as well they should.

Sadly, when Ashcroft covered Justice's bare boobs, he was really trying to throw her off balance so as not to be bothered by the little people. She's strong and I believe she'll recover, but she'll never quite be the same after this bunch of crooks, cons, and cowards made her over.

[Hepburn]

5. K&R.

She is right, IMO: If Libby's sentence was supposedly excessive, then the same can be said about her. Well, she is right ~~ assuming Boy Monkey was right about Scooter. Ummmmmmmm....yeah........:eyes:

[BOSSHOG]

6. On a similar note, I urge any servicemember charged with desertion

to call bush as a character witness.

[blondeatlast]

7. YES. As the commander-in-chief, can he refuse to testify?

You might be on to something very wise there... :shrug:

[DangerDave921]

8. Cowardice

In the Revolutionary War, General Washington had standing orders that any member of the Army that showed cowardice in the field of battle or who turned and ran (without orders) was to be shot on the spot. Cowardice and desertion were serious offenses back then.

The Libby pardon is disgusting. Just disgusting. The rule of law is there for anyone and everyone who may be charged with a crime. I don't care who it is -- rich or poor, black or white, male or female. You get convicted, you go through the appellate process, and you obey the judge's sentence.

However, I just had a thought -- what about these folks on death row who were convicted by a jury and sentenced by a judge? Don't governors often get asked to pardon, commute, or halt the execution -- despite a valid conviction and sentence?

[Ian David]

9. Perhaps every Democratic governor should threaten to commute the sentences...

of everyone in their state charged with Perjury, unless Bush reverses himself on the Libby commutation.

[liberal N proud]

10. Oh that is a good idea

We all should write our Democratic Governors suggesting just that

[ellenfl]

11. and let all those republicans out of jail?

that could be what this commutation is all about! how many of *'s cronies are in jail for perjury and obstruction of justice?

ellen fl