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Bush spares Libby from jail term Bush spares Libby from jail term
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush has intervened to prevent Lewis Libby, a convicted former vice-presidential aide, from serving a prison term.US President George W Bush has intervened to prevent Lewis Libby, a convicted former vice-presidential aide, from serving a prison term.
President Bush described as "excessive" the 30-month prison sentence Libby was facing for having obstructed an inquiry into the leaking of a CIA agent's name. President Bush described as "excessive" the 30-month sentence Libby was facing for obstructing an inquiry into the leaking of a CIA agent's name.
Though no longer required to go to jail, Libby is still due to serve a period of probation and pay a fine.Though no longer required to go to jail, Libby is still due to serve a period of probation and pay a fine.
An appeals court had earlier told Libby he could no longer delay going to jail. A leading Democratic politician said Mr Bush's decision was "disgraceful".
The judge ruled that Libby could not remain free on bail while his lawyer appealed against the sentence. History will judge the president "harshly" for using his power to benefit his own Vice President's chief of staff, Harry Reid, the leading Democrat in the US Senate, said.
CIA leak
Lewis Libby, also known by his nickname, "Scooter" Libby, was found guilty in March of perjury and obstructing justice in a case connected to Washington's decision to invade Iraq.Lewis Libby, also known by his nickname, "Scooter" Libby, was found guilty in March of perjury and obstructing justice in a case connected to Washington's decision to invade Iraq.
His trial saw the White House accused of having illegally made public the identity of a serving CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in retaliation for Ms Plame's husband's public criticism of the Iraqi invasion plan. His trial saw the White House accused of having illegally made public the identity of a serving CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in an apparent effort to embarrass her husband.
WHAT IS CIA LEAK CASE ABOUT? Libby was found guilty of lying to the FBI and a grand jury over revelations about CIA agent Valerie Plame's identityCritics said the White House leaked Ms Plame's identity to undermine her husband, ex-ambassador Joseph WilsonHe had publicly cast doubt on the Bush administration's case for war in IraqThe alleged cover-up, rather than the leak itself, was the subject of the Libby trial Q&A: CIA leak case Begging a president's pardon
Ms Plame's husband, a former US diplomat, had publicly criticised the basis for the invasion of Iraq.
Libby was found to have lied to investigators about conversations where he mentioned Ms Plame but he was not convicted of having directly leaked her name.Libby was found to have lied to investigators about conversations where he mentioned Ms Plame but he was not convicted of having directly leaked her name.
He was sentenced to 30 months, or two-and-a-half years in prison, spend two years of probation and pay a fine of $250,000 (£125,000). He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison, two years of probation and a fine of $250,000 (£125,000).
'Disgraceful decision' Democratic leader Harry Reid said the conviction was "the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq war".
Responding to President Bush's decision to commute Libby's sentence, he said: "Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone."
'Forever damaged'
Hours before President Bush's announcement, an appeals court had told Libby he could no longer delay going to jail.
The judge ruled that Libby could not remain free on bail while his lawyer appealed against the sentence.
President Bush said he had until now refrained from intervening in the case, waiting instead for the appeals process to take its course.President Bush said he had until now refrained from intervening in the case, waiting instead for the appeals process to take its course.
"But with the denial of bail being upheld and incarceration imminent, I believe it is now important to react to that decision," he said, referring to the appeals court's decision telling Libby he could no longer delay going to jail. "But with the denial of bail being upheld and incarceration imminent, I believe it is now important to react to that decision," he said.
"I respect the jury's verdict," President Bush said. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive," Mr Bush said."I respect the jury's verdict," President Bush said. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive," Mr Bush said.
However, he said, Libby's remaining punishments - the probation period and fine - were "harsh" and would leave his reputation "forever damaged".However, he said, Libby's remaining punishments - the probation period and fine - were "harsh" and would leave his reputation "forever damaged".
The top Democrat in the US Senate, Harry Reid, attacked the president's decision as "disgraceful". The BBC's James Westhead in Washington said the president's decision was a compromise between pardoning Libby outright and allowing his full sentence to stand.
"Libby's conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq war," Mr Reid said.
"Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone," he said.