Rumors are flying that if Libby's appeal fails, Bush intends to pardon him before he leaves office.
Thoughts?
Think it was a deal made beforehand? Maybe that's why Cheney and Rove were never called to come defend him and testify? Some jurors have already gone public stating the fact Rove didn't testify was problematic in their decision.
2007-03-09 07:46:57 · 15 answers · asked by BeachBum 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Possibly.
Lying to investigators, about ANYTHING - damages the judicial process. Prosecutors take that seriously and so should we.
I was not in the jury room. The jurors were. So I start by deferring to them.
There may be concerns which will be addressed through an appeal. Statements made by the prosecutor about "crimes" that were not charged or the subject of the indictment - "outing" Plame - may have confused the jury. There are objections to be reviewed over evidence the judge did not let in which could have helped the defendant. There's a shot at a reversal, and a retrial.
One factor which might argue for a pardon is the jury pool. One is NOT entitled to a "jury of one's peers," but to a jury drawn from a cross-section of the community in which one is tried. But if the entire community is hostile to one's case, then maybe no fair trial can be had. In some cases the proceedings are moved.
As an attorney, it just offends and saddens me to no end that people just don't know, or don't want to know, what this case is about. Leaking Plame's name was not a crime - Armitage and Rove admitted to it, and were not charged! So I don't know how Cheney or Rove could shed light on Libby's statements - testify to what, Libby DIDN'T know something at the time the prosecution said he did? It's hard to prove a negative. (How would you prove that someone knew something? Testify that you told him, or that you sent him an email with the info, or he told you about it, etc. How on Earth could Cheney or Rove testify that Libby DID NOT know something that was being whispered all over Washington? Testify that he was underwater for a week???!!!)
Frankly, the best reason for a pardon - IF there is one - is the swirling funnel cloud of comments about how this proves Bush lied, or Cheney was outing an agent, or whatever, when the case had nothing to do with that. There is a lynch mob mentality that makes the trial of the Scottsboro Boys look like the epitome of proper criminal procedure.
If people had just said "Libby's a liar," I would have said well, I guess he is. But the fact that misunderstandings, deliberate or not, about the entire case are so common, I'd say that that factor, as well as the possible defects in the trial I mentioned, could mean that justice was not done. (Especially in a town where Sandy Berger DID commit national-security related crimes, and was given a slap on the wrist.) Maybe not, but maybe.
2007-03-09 08:04:11 · answer #1 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, Bush will pardon him. Scooter can drag out appeals and Bush can pardon hin as he leaves office. I think we know that had Cheney or Rove been named by Libby, he wouldn't have taken the fall for them. Why is this pardon especially heinous? Because we all suspect that Libby only lied for those higher ups-how high does it go? Feels Watergate-ish to me. This is only the beginning.
I just want to add for those who keep saying "Plame wasn't covert" & anyone could have obtained that information. If your comany has your SS# on file, do you think he should divulge your Social Security # in a staff meeting?
2007-03-09 15:58:29 · answer #2 · answered by Middleclassandnotquiet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Not right at this moment but give him a few months when people have forgotten about the trial and he'll pardon him. Heck libby to the fall for the Bush adminstration so Bush owes him big time.
2007-03-09 16:02:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't think that he will. He didn't pardon the border patrol officers, despite their public agreement with Bush on immigration policy. It will likely be the same with Libby. What Libby did was wrong and unworthy of a pardon.
2007-03-09 15:51:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anthony M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all Scooter hasn't finished the appeal process, so no one is thinking about pardons.
Generally presidents pardon people as they are leaving office. I suspect that Scooter will be long out of jail before that time.
So I'm guessing no. He won't get a pardon.
2007-03-09 15:57:33 · answer #5 · answered by Ernie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Loose lips sink vice presidents, Libby has never fully disclosed Dead Eye Dick's role in the outing of Plame. My guess it is another dirty deal done dirt cheap by this criminal and corrupt administration, I would bet my bonnet that Libby will be pardoned and never spend a day in jail.
2007-03-09 19:31:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pfo, you need to pay closer attention. The leak came out of the State Department (Richard Armitage) not out of the Whitehouse. In addition, no one was ever charged for making the leak, so there must not have been a crime committed.
So how is someone made a 'scapegoat' for a crime that didn't happen, via a leak that was made in a location other than where Libby was working?
2007-03-09 15:56:01 · answer #7 · answered by dsl67 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Maybe, I guess it is possible. Bush would not be the first president to pardon people before leaving office.
2007-03-09 15:49:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes, in Dec of 08.
2007-03-09 16:02:26 · answer #9 · answered by Third Uncle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Libby will be found not guilty on appeal. after all this was all just a witch hunt by Fitzgerald. there was no underlying crime to begin with
2007-03-09 15:53:36 · answer #10 · answered by kapute2 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋