Biden questions Bush's "special treatment" of "Scooter" Libby

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Yesterday Wikinews reported that the prison sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby was commuted by US President George W. Bush. Today Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, a Democratic Party hopeful for the 2008 Presidential election, has issued a statement on his blog critical of the President's actions.

Today, Tony Snow said that President Bush decided to commute Scooter Libby's 30 month prison sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice because it was 'excessive.'

Yet, last year, the Bush administration filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in an attempt to uphold a lower court's ruling that a 33 month prison sentence for Victor Rita, who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice, was 'reasonable.'

The questions we should all be asking ourselves today are: Why is the President flip-flopping? Why does Scooter Libby get special treatment?

Libby is the former chief of staff for U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, and was at the center of the CIA leak scandal, where the identity of former CIA agent Valerie Plame was allegedly leaked to the media by White House officials. Bush's intervention ensures that Libby will not serve jail time, however Libby must still pay a US$250,000 fine and undergo two years of probation.

Biden goes on to suggest that "George Bush's disregard for the rule of law is truly unbecoming a President. In 2000, when you ran for president, you promised to 'uphold the honor and dignity' of the office of President of the United States—we're still waiting."

Related news

"'Scooter' Libby jail sentence commuted by US President George Bush" — Wikinews, July 2, 2007
"Scooter Libby gets 30 months in Plame case" — Wikinews, June 5, 2007
"Jury convicts former aide to Dick Cheney in Plame case" — Wikinews, March 6, 2007
"Libby, former Cheney aide, pleads not guilty" — Wikinews, November 3, 2005

Sources

Erin Medlicott Sen. Biden: “In 2000, Bush Promised To ‘Uphold The Honor & Dignity’ Of Presidential Office — It’s 2007, And We’re Still Waiting” Joe Biden for President, July 3, 2007
"Victor A. Rita v. United States of America" — Department of Justice, accessed on July 3, 2007
Press Release: "Statement by the President On Executive Clemency for Lewis Libby" — White House, July 2, 2007

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Pardons and clemency in the United States

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