Libby seeks probation in CIA leak case = Proposed Sentence Too Harsh

[L. Coyote]

Interesting how the AP stories appear differently in different papers!

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Libby seeks probation in CIA leak case
By MATT APUZZO - AP - Posted on Thu, May. 31, 2007
http://www.miamiherald.com/692/story/124710.html
-
Former White House and State Department officials and military commanders are supporting former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby as he asks a federal judge to spare him prison time in the CIA leak case.

Prosecutors want Libby to serve up to three years in prison for lying about his conversations with reporters regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose 2003 outing touched off a leak investigation.

Libby's lawyers said Thursday would be unfair. Citing numerous letters from former colleagues and friends, they said Libby deserved only probation.

"His dedication to promoting freedom abroad and keeping American citizens safe at home is beyond question," the attorneys wrote.

Libby was convicted in March of perjury and obstruction, becoming the highest-ranking White House official convicted since the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago. Sentencing is scheduled Tuesday. ...............

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Libby: Proposed Sentence Too Harsh
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 14:47 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff told a federal judge Thursday that he doesn't deserve the harsh sentence prosecutors are seeking for him in the CIA leak case.

Prosecutors want I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to serve up to three years in prison for lying about his conversations with reporters regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose 2003 outing touched off a leak investigation.

Libby's lawyers said that would be unfair and that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is trying to use the obstruction case to sentence Libby for the leak.

Fitzgerald "seeks to have Mr. Libby sentenced on the basis of the case it could have sought to try — but chose not to," defense attorneys wrote in court documents filed Thursday afternoon.

Libby was convicted in March of perjury and obstruction, becoming the highest-ranking White House official convicted since the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago.

[Renew Deal]

1. He should share a cell with that spammer guy.

:evilgrin:

[BlueJazz]

2. 3 Years is to much ??...Christ, there's people in Texas serving...

...3 years for smoking a joint.

[L. Coyote]

5. It would be interesting to know what the typical 3-year sentence correlates to

in various states. Then compare that to the red/blue map.

Sounds like Texas has a human rights problem.

[pinto]

3. Eh. Good try, defense. Seems he's going to some time, though.

And he's got it coming. I only wish the apparently prosecutable cases could have been up the chain of command.

[Missy Vixen]

4. Poooor Scoooooter

In the meantime, just because the defense attorneys say something doesn't mean it's either accurate or going to happen.

>Fitzgerald "seeks to have Mr. Libby sentenced on the basis of the case it could have sought to try — but chose not to," defense attorneys wrote in court documents filed Thursday afternoon.<

"He didn't prove his case" -- uh, that's why he got four convictions on the five charges. He missed the fifth charge by one holdout juror. That mean ol' Patrick Fitzgerald! Why doesn't he take up a HOBBY or something? I can hardly wait to read the prosecution response to this. In the meantime, Scooter, this is what you'll see on June 5th. Better bring some extra underwear!



Fondly,
Julie

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. That Is A GREAT Pic Of Him. Hadn't Seen It Yet.

In fact, I'd say it's my favorite one of him so far.

[Bitwit1234]

6. So perjury you should only get probation THEN

how come the republicans impeached a president for what they said was lying. And how about that obstruction of justice charge should they have just thrown that out...damn...these republicans they DO think they are above the law.

[Wiley50]

8. Moot! Smirky's gonna Pardon Him, Everyone knows that

Just a question of when

[L. Coyote]

10. We may find out very soon, if it is "Do not pass GO, just STOP at the pokey."

And pay the fines!

[L. Coyote]

9. Friends of Scooter Libby Fear He'll Be Sent Immediately to Jail

Fitzgerald Again Points to Cheney
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2007; 1:14 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/05/29/BL2007052901024.html


Special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald has made it clearer than ever that he was hot on the trail of a coordinated campaign to out CIA agent Valerie Plame until that line of investigation was cut off by the repeated lies from Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.
.......

Despite all the public interest in the case, Fitzgerald has repeatedly asserted that grand-jury secrecy rules prohibit him from being more forthcoming about either the course of his investigation or any findings beyond those he disclosed to make the case against Libby.......

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Friends of Scooter Libby Fear He'll Be Sent Immediately to Jail
May 30, 2007 | 1:37 PM ET
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/blogs/news_blog/070530/friends_of_scooter_libby_fear.htm

When Lewis "Scooter" Libby is sentenced next month for his involvement in the Valerie Plame-CIA spy scandal, friends and legal allies fear that he will immediately be shipped to jail.

"I think that he will get some jail time and probably be sent away that day," said a member of the Libby Legal Defense Fund.

Libby's supporters plan to make the case again that the prosecution was politically motivated, spun out of control, and ended up nailing someone who wasn't even the leaker of Plame's name in the case.

===========================
Fitzgerald's Memo Puts Libby Crimes in Cheney Context
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003319.php
By Laura McGann - May 30, 2007, 6:00 PM

The Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin spells out how a memo Patrick Fitzgerald sent to the judge preparing to sentence Scooter Libby connects Libby’s obstruction crimes to Dick Cheney. ........

At trial, it became clear that Libby learned about former CIA agent Valerie Plame from Cheney. But the details that would clarify who orchestrated the press leak were covered up, Fitzgerald says, by Libby’s acts of obstruction.

Froomkin grabs key points from Fitzgerald’s memo saying:

The investigation, Fitzgerald writes, "was necessary to determine whether there was concerted action by any combination of the officials known to have disclosed the information about Ms. Plame to the media as anonymous sources, and also whether any of those who were involved acted at the direction of others.

[pitohui]

11. oh boo hoo hoo!!!

cry me a frickin' river! are we at war w. terrorists and need to protect our covert agents or are we just pretending to be at war?

throw the book at this clown

[L. Coyote]

13. They must pretend that there was no big WMD lie, or they all go to jail.

This is a case of the lies told to cover for the cover for the big lie told by the big liar.

[JoePhilly]

12. No Amnesty for Scooter! /nt

[Supersedeas]

14. Scooter wants Celebrity Justice -- and military commanders come to his aide!?!