No Pardon For Scooter Libby From Bush

Newsweek:

In a move that has keenly disappointed some of his strongest conservative allies, President Bush has decided not to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, for his 2007 conviction in the CIA leak case, two White House officials said Monday.

On Bush's last full day as president, Bush did commute the sentence of two former Border Patrol agents--Jose Compeon and Ignacio Ramos--for shooting a Mexican drug dealer and then lying about it. But White House press spokesman Tony Fratto told Newsweek "you should not expect any more" pardons and commutations from Bush before he leaves office Tuesday. Another senior official, who requested anonymity discussing sensitive matters, confirmed that no more pardons would be granted.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[slj316]

12:18 PM on 01/21/2009

I'm shocked he didn't pardon himself or anyone in his administration. I fully expect Libby to start singing sometime soon to avoid a long prison sentence.

[murphysgirl]

11:57 AM on 01/21/2009

It would have only made his presidency even more of a disgrace had he pardoned Scooter Libby.

[ArmyCav22]

10:59 AM on 01/21/2009

Where are all of those 'pre emptive' pardons Bush was going to order? Supposedly he was going to pardon his entire staff and himself. Why didnt they happen?????????

[lenzorizzo]

01:31 AM on 01/21/2009

Thinking only of himself. What's new?

[imatoz]

01:17 AM on 01/21/2009

I was expecting tons of preemptive pardons. Now that I think of it though, he couldn't be sure to pardon everyone who knew something, there were too many of them. Instead, but leaving them open to prosecution, they can all invoke the 5th and keep quiet.

[VOTER]

11:58 PM on 01/20/2009

NO COMMUTATION FOR FELON, FORMER GOP GOV GEORGE RYAN.

I finally have ONE thing for which to Thank, Mr. Bush.

[Robert2664]

10:14 PM on 01/20/2009

I bet scooter will be singing like a nightengale just in order to avoid prison.Along with others in the former admin.But right now there's bigger fish to fry.

[sassafra]

07:35 PM on 01/20/2009

and so bush leaves office consistant with how he ran the office fo 8 years; delusional to the end.
so utterly certain, that as the decider he could do no wrong no pardons of his administration are needed.
dubya, when the subpoenas start arriving i hope you remember you could have at least admitted in your own heart the possibility of your crimes by pardoning yourself..

[connorin]

04:08 PM on 01/20/2009

you mean he didn't do the pay for play revolving door pardons of old billy boy...gosh it must hurt you guys to see a man of real integrity

[disgusted48]

06:25 PM on 01/20/2009

yep he's special alright. a criminal that leaves his fellow compadres twisting in the wind.

[Donnat]

07:15 PM on 01/20/2009

No, Bush just loves to incarcerate folks and execute them. He's proud of his record in Texas and of course, Abu Grahib. Showing leniency to the incarcerated is just not Bush's style.

[SethBLiNK]

04:00 PM on 01/20/2009

Am I the only non-Illini who finds politics from that state confusing? And I'm not talking about the fact that you there will soon be two former Governors in prison. I'm talking about the names.

George Ryan was Governor. And then Jim Ryan ran for his seat. But they're not related. Jack Ryan, who is not related to either one of them, was going to run for the Senate until he too was felled by a scandal. He was running to replace Peter Fitzgerald, who is not related to Patrick Fitzgerald the judge who prosecuted Ryan (George, not Jim or Jack) and also Blagojavich. Say what you want about Blago, at least his name is a little original.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

07:29 PM on 01/20/2009

I don't see the problem.

[glaze]

04:28 PM on 01/21/2009

It IS kind of like the old shell game, isn't it? Good job on the linguistic knot!

[HurryUp1212009]

03:20 PM on 01/20/2009

No pardons: The only honorable thing Bush did in 8 years!

[walktheshore]

03:03 PM on 01/20/2009

Wouldn't the granting of pardons in and of itself constitute a chain of culpability? Given the cast of characters, and the surrounding circumstances, and the issues involved in the possible indictments of those who might have been pardoned.

Barring all that, it would just have more quickly lit a firestorm he's hoping to sneak out of town without being at the center of.

Enjoy your time, Bush, the whirlwind is still coming to reap you if not sooner then later.

[NeverRepublican]

02:57 PM on 01/20/2009

I'm stunned.

I bet the consevatives are pissed.

[DontJustFollow]

02:44 PM on 01/20/2009

Enough about President Bush no one really expected him to do anything different. Like President Obama said, he did everything he could to make the transition an easy one. It was pretty evident by the way they both laughed and kidded around that they hold each other in high regard.

President Bush kept us all safe and that is government's FIRST job. Now we have President Obama and a lot of work ahead.

Congratulations for leaving town with dignity (no furniture stolen...) and for showing the office of President the respect it so lacked the previous 8 years.

President Obama looks like the perfect man at the perfect time.

[joebaggadonuts]

02:43 PM on 01/20/2009

By not granting pardons, the AGs caseload will keep him busy for four years before he gets around to Bush.