Libby Drops AppealThe president’s commutation saved Scooter Libby from the terrible excess of a 30-month jail sentence. But it looks like Libby has resigned himself to accepting the injustice of the fine, probation, and felony conviction that will remain with him always. Breaking from the AP:
Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby is dropping his appeal in the CIA leak case, his attorney said Monday….
“We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby’s innocence,” attorney Theodore Wells said. “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.”
Update: Back in July, after the president’s commutation, then-spokesman Tony Snow refused to discuss the Valerie Plame leak at all because Libby’s case was still on appeal. After Libby’s appeals were exhausted, he said, “we’ll deal with it.” Well, no time like the present!
Excerpts from that press briefing are below.
Q Tony, one point that is not in dispute is that Karl Rove was involved in the leak, in some way he was involved. He talked to at least two reporters who ended up publishing this information. In 2004, the President said — he didn’t talk about convictions or anything — he said he would fire anyone in this White House who was involved in the leak. We now know Karl Rove was involved; he did not fire him.
MR. SNOW: There are two things to note. We have also said that we do not — we are not going to make comments in detail until the legal process is over. And it is not; there is still an appeal through —
Q You just put out a two-page statement. He commented —
Q Wait a minute, he just put out this statement, and it’s it’s over.
Q He commented — how could you not —
Q Yes, he’s commented now, so that’s a big — we can shoot holes in that statement.
MR. SNOW: No, on follow-on issues like this that still may have bearing and an issue that may return to trial, I’m not going to comment on it…..
Q Tony, you didn’t answer the question about Karl Rove, though. So why wasn’t Karl Rove fired?
MR. SNOW: The reason I said that is because you’re asking a question that still may be arising — may be a subject of inquiry and ongoing —
Q How many years is it going to take? I mean, the President made that statement in 2004.
Q Fitzgerald said it’s over.
Q Fitzgerald said it’s over.
MR. SNOW: Well, Patrick Fitzgerald is not the one responsible for making a final decision on appeals. And I believe that —
Q — other special prosecutor?
MR. SNOW: I believe that the Libby team, at this point, still has before the court an appeal.
Q The President didn’t wait for the appeals.
Q What’s the point of the statement —
MR. SNOW: No, no, no, the point was that some of these issues — it certainly does, because these are things that may come up as questions within the context of further trial.
Q How does this square with the President saying, anybody who leaks in my White House, anybody who doesn’t follow the law, is not going to work for me?
MR. SNOW: Well, once we get — once we get final determination on that, we’ll deal with it.
