AP Via Yahoo:
A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, has dropped his appeal in a perjury case that fueled debate over the Iraq war, his attorney said on Monday.
Libby was found guilty in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into who blew the cover of a CIA officer,Valerie Plame, whose husband had criticized the Iraq war.
“We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby’s innocence,” attorney Ted Wells said in a statement. “However, the realities were, that after five years of government service by Mr. Libby and several years of defending against this case, the burden on Mr. Libby and his young family of continuing to pursue his complete vindication are too great to ask them to bear.”
High-powered allies like Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson raised millions of dollars to cover Libby’s steep legal bills. Read on…
Jane at FDL thinks Scooter’s looking for a Christmas miracle, Marcy reminds us that he’s still a criminal and Jeralyn at Talk Left got an e-mail from Joe Wilson today. Is a full pardon for Scooter on the horizon? The Bush administration has said repeatedly they won’t discuss Scooter because of the ongoing investigation, but rest assured, it will be a cold day in hell before they’ll talk openly about their treason. I suspect we’ll be hearing the term executive privilege or some such nonsense in short order. You can read Scooter’s full statement here.
Filed Under: Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Karl Rove, Plame Case/Pat Fitzgerald, Scandals, White House
No Trackbacks To “Scooter Libby Drops His Appeal - What Now?“
What now? Judas knew what to do.
can someone scoot over to Huffpo and see if secondary links are working? I click on a link from the main page and then the next page loads blank. Not sure whats going on. Other secondary links in other websites work fine for me.
President Evil might as well just go ahead and pardon him. It’s not like he’s the slightest bit bothered at even trying to retain any illusion of honor.
Sure, but not until after the ‘08 election. The LAST thing Bush wants to do is give Dems an issue that might sway independents.
OT. Sorry. From the previous thread.
Who here wants to know about Schroedinger’s cat?
If there is not appeal then the testimony that he would give congress wouldn’t incriminate him. Or would he still be able to claim that to avoid charges of treason?
LOL, his ass ain’t even in prison and he still says, “I am innocent!” and he has his attorney do it for him.
Life is tough on the street for a Bush made-man convict. Maybe Consigliere Rove can find Scooter a job collecting on political favors.
the burden??? this reminds me of a star trek episode where spock is doing a mind meld with an alien– “the pain . . . the pain”
bullshit
Is a full pardon for Scooter on the horizon?
Yes. Do the questions get harder as we go along?
Why bother with an appeal when you know you’re going to be pardoned?
He’s innocent; but it would cost too much to
buyprove it.Some people can’t be bought. Appears Scooter knows his price.
“Is a full pardon for Scooter on the horizon?” Well, DUH-H.
No, I don’t think anything will happen. If Bush pardons libby, he’ll no longer be in danger of jail, additional charges, no double jepordy, etc. and therefore will no longer have a 5th amendment claim. Right now, he still has a 5th amendment claim because technically, he can be charged with additional crimes, etc. He’ll get a job in a republican think-tank and be set for the rest of his life.
That’s very interesting. I guess the appeal would be heard in the middle of next year’s election. Plenty o’ Dirt(TM) in there, best just make it go away…
Attorney Ted Wells is a retard.
Well, as Olberman pointed out, now that the appeal process is over, there’s absolutely no legal justification for the Administration hiding behind it. In other words, let’s get them all over to the Hill to testify. Starting with Fitzgerald about what Bush and Cheney told him when he “interviewed” them.
Then, of course, the “pardon”, so that Scooter can join all those scoundrels from the Reagan Administration that Papa Bush pardoned.
This doesn’t require a rocket scientist. The pardon will be written by Cheney and issued by Bush.
Can’t Brit Hume figure out a way for Dubya to be able to expunge Libby’s conviction?
the pardon
What club fed will Scooter be staying at while he waits on his pardon?
Does this administration remind you more of:
‘To Catch A Thief’?,
‘The Fugitive’?. or
‘Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels’?
VietVet8666 @ 5:
I do.
Jo @ 22:
I don’t. (Then I can believe it’s still alive.)
uhhh.. trying..to .. resist.. nope. can’t do it. This is the guy who covered for Rove by drawing out an obscure trial for lying under oath, when the crime was revealing the secret identity of an active CIA counterterrorism professional working in nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.. and then called democrats treasonous.
so, here goes;
maybe Libby found out that he could go to the same jail as Illinois Governor George Ryan, and they would get to share a potty, sort of like an airport men’s room for republicans
Scooter should do what all convicted criminals do, go into politics.
But he should change his name. ‘Scooter’ will just cause him to grow a massive ass*ole, especially in the republican caucuses.
Hey Fred Thompson, ‘HE TOOK YOUR MONEY…SUCKER!’
Pardon me.
I hope Scooter writes a sequel to his novel “The Apprentice” where the “frigid” young prostitute has an encounter with a bear
Swashbuckler @ 4:
Good thinking. If the dems were smart, they’d make an issue of it anyway thereby putting pressure on bush to not pardon him lest he look like a hypocrite. Well you know. If it weren’t already too late for that and all.
I look forward to the movie.
Where Libby’s played by Norm Macdonald.
to much of a burden to bear????that’s repug code talk for ……wait a minute….you mean someone else will be Prez by the time this gets to court????…ps…and no executive privilege
there will be other charges coming in about 14 months scooter.
Thing Fish @ 23:
Is he is, or is he aint?
Open the box and find out.
whizkid @ 30:
Bush will be played by Pauly Shore.
Rumsfeld by the cryptkeeper.
“Executive privilege”? I doubt it.
I think they’ll say something like, “We don’t comment on closed cases.”
He CANNOT be pardoned for the underlying crime (treason). He has never been charged in the real crimes, so from that standpoint a pardon is not available. Blanket pardons, like that given by Ford to Nixon, are of questionable legality.
Bushco’s pardons of co-conspirators are going to be court cases, not fait accompli.
Dear Scooter,
We are rooting for you
palslimy Bush pawn. Go for it, please appeal it if you think you are innocent. I want to see more of this in the news, especially in an election year.Sounds like Mr Libby has heard of the John Elliott cop-out - “I’m innocent but its its too hard to prove/buy/demostrate it”.
Instead of spending thousands on a legal defense, I guess Scooter decided it was more prudent to hold out for his presidential pardon, which no doubt is right around the corner.
What now?
If history holds true:
1. he gets his pardon, then
2. he gets his Presidential Medal of Freedom*
*order may vary
Yes there will be a full pardon. The criminal George Bush will pardon the criminal Scooter Libby. That is how this mafia works.
Blame it on Nancy.
Thanks for nothin’ Ms. Pelosi.
NoGWBpolicyleftinplacesays @ 42:
How is this Pelosi’s fault?
D to the Izzle says @ 6:46,
How long did you sit on that remark before you decided to actually print it?
Aren’t you the least bit embarrassed by showing the entire www what a very small childlike mind, you have?
“George, the password is ‘Pardon.’ ”
“Yes, Mr. Cheney.”
(As Mr. Cheney leaves the room, George mumbles, “Boy, he - and Mommy - never let me do anything by myself.”)
Does this mean Libby can be compelled to testify before congress? Since He has dropped his appeal, he should no longer be able to take the fifth.
Is there anyone who thinks that Plame would not have ever been outed? Her husband went on a trip that was her job and then writes an oped attacking the president.
I would just love to know what conversation Joe and Valerie had when he was writing that oped.
“Hey honey, I’m writing an oped to attack the president over findings from that trip you didn’t sent me on for something that was your job. Think it’s a good idea?”
“Of course dear. We both know that no one will ckeck to see whose job it really is to do what you did, so go ahead attack the president in print. I know I’ll be safe…”
Scooter’s no longer appealing?
I wouldn’t know, I don’t swing that way.
Mark @ 45:
Nancy Ray Gun?
Scooter, we hardly knew ye.
Smart move, Scooter. Now your pardon is a sure thing. If you’d pursued that appeal, some bad stuff might have come out and Bushie would have hung you out to dry. You’re learning how the game is played, pal.
marbotty @ 43:
It’s not. She’s just the scheduled SCAPEGOAT.
Hooray for Scooter, it might be safe for him to fly again now, instead of taking the GOP proof train.
Remember how he suddenly had an aversion to flying a while back…