Scooter Libby Disbarred

WASHINGTON — Former top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was banned Thursday from practicing law in the nation's capital following his perjury conviction in the case of a CIA operative's leaked identity. The disbarment order of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals had been expected.

"When a member of the bar is convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, disbarment is mandatory," the appeals court ruled.

Last May, a court panel that oversees lawyer ethics recommended that Libby be stripped of his law license in Washington. The Board on Professional Responsibility then found that Libby's conviction for lying to the FBI about the case of former CIA operative Valerie Plame amounted to "crimes that involve moral turpitude."

"This action is required by the rules following a conviction regardless of the merits of the case, and for that reason Mr. Libby expected and did not oppose the court's order," said Libby attorney William Jeffress.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was first licensed to work as a lawyer in Washington in 1978. His membership with the D.C. bar also was suspended for failing to pay his dues, records show.

Thursday's appeals court ruling also noted that "neither bar counsel nor respondent has taken exception to the board's report and recommendation."

Libby was the only person to face criminal charges in the case of the 2003 leak of Plame's identity. Plame has since left the CIA and contends the White House was trying to discredit her husband, a critic of President Bush's Iraq policy.

Last July, Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2-year sentence, sparing him from serving any prison time after being convicted of perjury and obstructing justice. Libby dropped appeals to have his convictions overturned. He has paid a $250,000 fine and remains on two years probation.

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On the Net:

The disbarment order can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/2rhu9q

(This version CORRECTS name of court to District of Columbia Court of Appeals)

Comments

[Nyla785]

Scooter doesn't need no stinkin' law license. He's done his job for the GOP--they'll take care of him for the rest of his life. He may even turn up as a pundit on Fox News--where all the disreputable Republicans go to die.

[Jeff1958]

You mean like Karl Rove on FOX criticizing Obama's speech?

[lenoirlady]

Did that not make you want to Puke??? AND kick some fat Rove ass!

[wolfgangmo]

My guess would be the Scooter will become a lobbyist, or governor of a state where they appreciate traitors.

I would like to comment on torture. Some on here have suggested that Libby deserves to be tortured. There is no justification for that. Ever.

As Americans we either believe that it is right or it is wrong. I know what I believe. To anyone here who holds a different opinion that is your right but do you really think that it is in keeping with our best traditions?

[loki]

Wow, what a resume'
Certainly he will qualify for republican congressman or radio/ tv spin mouth for the Neo Cons.
He's at least reached Saint hood in the Republican party with these qualifications.

[01202009]

I thought traitors could be shot in times of war.

[glesslib]

Never mind. I see my mistake now. Mr. Prez merely commuted his sentence. He's saving the pardon for his last day in office, if that ever comes.

[passthesewords]

Let me understand this, The United States Goverment is going spend millions of dollars pursuing a perjury trial for baseball player (Barry Bonds) for lying to a grand jury and man whose exposes a undercover CIA, get's no jail time and is disbarred. (Holy Batman).
Exposing a CIA agent, Scooter Libby endangered the lives of her contacts, hurt our national security,and The President of United States, communtes his sentence and jokes about it at the National Press Club Dinner in song and dance routines and few weeks ago.
While a baseball player, basically a entertainer could probably go to prison for five years for lying about taking steroids (a pill or injection). This is the Social Justice the beleaguered Rev. Wright spoke to about America. Be a White Republican, be Chief of Staff, for Cheney and expose a CIA agent, maybe cause people to get kill overseas, get a free pass, lie about a pill and be black go to prison for five years for lying about a game our kids play..

[HDR]

You got it.

[glesslib]

How could they disbar him? Didn't Mr. Prez pardon him because he didn't feel Libby was guilty of anything? Wasn't that the reason? Hasn't Bush sung his praises as a true patriot?

May they all end up in adjoining cells at some point in their futures.

[ornery]

Bush hasn't pardoned him YET.

Even W could not be that bold.

He commuted the prison time. To 0. Libby still had to pay the $500K fine.

That is why he resisted disbarment: so he could keep on billing time at $1000 per hour for his "services". Make up that fine by billing 500 hours. Notice I said billing, not working.

Look for Bush to pardon him fully on last day in office, and Libby to apply for reinstatement of his license based on the pardon the following business day.

After all, Scoots is an expert on pardons. He helped get Marc Rich his pardon from Billo and Hill, along with Hill's brother Hugh, who was paid about $600 K for his efforts.

[coloradosiren]

IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY. Besides Scooter no longer needs no stinking license. What did he get in return for taking the hit for the VP of the US.

[wolfgangmo]

While I don't believe in torture I do think banishment might be helpful. Perhaps a small tropical island away from just about everywhere might be good. How about Guam?

This would happen after the Hague tries them for War Crimes.

And after being impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.

[ornery]

What took them so long???

In some states, acceptance of responsibility and remorse, precursors to "rehabilitation", are held to be eidenced by the guilty attorney filing a motion to strike his name from the roll of attorneys admitted to practice.

Looks like Scoots decided candor and contrition are not for him, to stretch out the days he can bill clients like Marc Rich at $1000 per hour. He's probably racked up the 500 hours to pay off the $500,000 fine.

Scoots, you really know how to do the legal profession proud.

[wolfgangmo]

That fine has already been paid through donations. He paid nothing.

[HST]

Maybe Scooter and his good friend Judith Miller will get together and write a how to book.
Working title: How to Lie, cheat and commit treason to enrich yourself

[PaulRaymond]

They already wrote the book. It just needs to be published.

[PaulRaymond]

It ain't much, but I guess it will have to do. Jail time would have been the RIGHT, er I mean proper thing.

[Witchitalineman]

Yipee!

[DietrichMoody]

There's a tear in my beer.

[algcciapi]

All this means is that he is one step away from joining Oliver North, Jonah Goldberg, Rick Santorum, Tom Delay, Karl Rove, etc as a Fox News Contributor.

[blabberwocky]

And don't forget G. Gordon Liddy...hm­m...they both should have been named "Fibby"

[Camarosc35]

lol

[nogop]

HE COULD CARE LESS!!!! HE'LL WIND UP ON FAUX NEWS OR WRITE A BOOK FULL OF LIES THE RIGHT-WING NUTS WILL BUY TO SUPPORT HIM FINANCIALLY!!! BEING A LAWYER WILL SEEM LIKE "SMALL POTATOES"" WHERE HIS INCOME IS CONCERNED!!! THE AEI WILL HIRE HIM TOMORROW AS A SENIOR FELLOW!!!

[Izadora]

Sorry..... but he paid the price.

[gappytoofcondi]

What price? He didn't spend one day in jail, He probably made more than the $250,000 it cost him to pay his attorney. Aren't we talking about someone who could have been tried for treason in any other country? If Scooda was in China, he would have more than likely been executed.
The man was a shield for Cheney. His punishment did not fit the crime. End of story.

[wolfgangmo]

Price? What price?

His fines have been paid for through donations. He served not 1 day in jail.So what price did he pay?

I wonder just how many people's death he contributed to. Murder is coming cheap in America these days if you are rich, white and politically connected.

[anthonylee]

Can Scooter petition for reinstatement to the DC Bar, WHEN (not if) Bush ultimately "Pardons" Libby?

[Lemeritus]

"Former top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was banned Thursday from practicing law...."

Was THAT what he was practicing!