Libby Allies Call for Pardon From Bush
By MATT APUZZO and PETE YOST 06.06.07, 1:04 PM ET
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's allies renewed their call for President Bush to pardon the former White House aide but President Bush rebuffed questions Wednesday about whether he'd intervene to prevent Libby's 2 1/2-year prison sentence.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation. He became the highest-ranking White House official sentenced to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.
A Republican stalwart, Libby drew more than 150 letters of support from military commanders and diplomats who praised his government service from the Cold War through the early days of the Iraq war.
"I hope the president feels sufficient pressure to issue a pardon," former Ambassador Richard Carlson said Wednesday. "He's a man of principle, like him or not, and the principle in this case is that a pardon is the right thing to do."
Bush, traveling in Europe, gave no hint about his plans.
"Yesterday was a very sad day for Scooter and his family," Bush told reporters. "But there's an ongoing process and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to discuss it while the process is going forward."
"My heart goes out to his family," the president added.
Libby's attorneys, meanwhile, are rushing to try to forestall the prison sentence. They plan to file legal briefs Thursday arguing that Libby should remain free while his appeals play out.
By MATT APUZZO and PETE YOST 06.06.07, 1:04 PM ET
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's allies renewed their call for President Bush to pardon the former White House aide but President Bush rebuffed questions Wednesday about whether he'd intervene to prevent Libby's 2 1/2-year prison sentence.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation. He became the highest-ranking White House official sentenced to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.
A Republican stalwart, Libby drew more than 150 letters of support from military commanders and diplomats who praised his government service from the Cold War through the early days of the Iraq war.
"I hope the president feels sufficient pressure to issue a pardon," former Ambassador Richard Carlson said Wednesday. "He's a man of principle, like him or not, and the principle in this case is that a pardon is the right thing to do."
Bush, traveling in Europe, gave no hint about his plans.
"Yesterday was a very sad day for Scooter and his family," Bush told reporters. "But there's an ongoing process and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to discuss it while the process is going forward."
"My heart goes out to his family," the president added.
Libby's attorneys, meanwhile, are rushing to try to forestall the prison sentence. They plan to file legal briefs Thursday arguing that Libby should remain free while his appeals play out.
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