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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Bush spares Libby from jail term | Bush spares Libby from jail term |
| (about 3 hours 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 sentence Libby was facing for obstructing 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. |
| A leading Democratic politician said Mr Bush's decision was "disgraceful". | A leading Democratic politician said Mr Bush's decision was "disgraceful". |
| History will judge the president "harshly" for using his power to benefit his vice-president's former chief of staff, Harry Reid, the leading Democrat in the US Senate, said. | History will judge the president "harshly" for using his power to benefit his vice-president's former chief of staff, Harry Reid, the leading Democrat in the US Senate, said. |
| The BBC's James Westhead in Washington said the president's decision was a compromise between pardoning Libby outright and allowing his sentence to stand. | The BBC's James Westhead in Washington said the president's decision was a compromise between pardoning Libby outright and allowing his sentence to stand. |
| 'Criminal conduct' | 'Criminal conduct' |
| 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. |
| BUSH'S DECISION Spares Libby from jail, but is not a full pardonLibby must serve two-year probation periodHe must still pay $250,000 fine Text: Bush's clemency order href="/1/hi/world/americas/6264394.stm">US papers react to move class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6296827.stm">Trial: At-a-glance | |
| His trial stemmed from the accusation that the White House had illegally made public the identity of a serving CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in an apparent effort to embarrass her husband. | His trial stemmed from the accusation that the White House had illegally made public the identity of a serving CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in an apparent effort to embarrass her husband. |
| Ms Plame's husband, a former US diplomat, had publicly criticised the basis for the invasion of Iraq. | 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 two-and-a-half years in prison, two years of probation and 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). |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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 | 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 |
| Responding to President Bush's decision to commute Libby's sentence, he said: "Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone." | Responding to President Bush's decision to commute Libby's sentence, he said: "Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone." |
| Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker in the House of Representatives, said Mr Bush's decision showed he "condones criminal conduct". | Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker in the House of Representatives, said Mr Bush's decision showed he "condones criminal conduct". |
| The prosecutor who led the case against Libby, Patrick Fitzgerald, challenged Mr Bush's statement that the sentence was "excessive", saying "all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals". | The prosecutor who led the case against Libby, Patrick Fitzgerald, challenged Mr Bush's statement that the sentence was "excessive", saying "all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals". |
| 'Forever damaged' | 'Forever damaged' |
| Hours before President Bush's announcement, an appeals court had told Libby he could no longer delay going to jail. | 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. | The judge ruled that Libby could not remain free on bail while his lawyer appealed against the sentence. |
| Ms Plame's identity as a CIA agent was leaked to the press | Ms Plame's identity as a CIA agent was leaked to the press |
| 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. | "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". |
| Tell us what you think of President Bush's decision | Tell us what you think of President Bush's decision |