President Donald trump pardoned Lewis “Scooter” Libby on Friday, former assistant Vice-President dick Cheney, who was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice and perjury in connection with leaking the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Libby was indicted by the special Prosecutor investigating the Plame case. George Bush commuted his sentence, but trump went even further.
“I don’t know Mr. Libby,” trump said Friday, “but for many years I heard that he was unfair. Let’s hope that a full pardon will help to correct a very sad part of my life.”
Trump has released only two other pardons so far in his tenure, including the controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Full text of the statement read trump’s pardon of Libby below:
Today, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Grant of clemency (Amnesty) I. “scooter” Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Richard Cheney, for convictions stemming from trial 2007. President George Bush commuted the sentence of Mr. Libby shortly after his conviction. Mr. Libby, however, paid a fine of $250,000, conducted 400 hours of community service and two years probation.
In 2015, one of the key witnesses against Mr. Libby recanted his testimony, stating publicly that it believes that the Prosecutor withheld relevant information from her during the interview, which would have significantly changed what she said. Next year the district of Columbia court of appeals unanimously reinstated Mr. Libby to the bar, reauthorizing it to practice law. The court agreed with the district of Columbia disciplinary counsel who said that Mr. Libby had presented “no credible evidence” to support his innocence, including evidence that the key prosecution witness “changed her recollection of the events in question.”
Before his conviction, Mr. Libby was provided to more than a decade of meritorious service to the nation as a civil servant at the State Department, the defense Department and the White house. His record since his conviction in exactly the same spotless, and he continues to be held in high esteem by their colleagues and peers.
In light of these facts, the President believes Mr. Libby is completely worthy of that forgiveness. “I don’t know Mr. Libby”, – the President said trump,“ but for many years I heard that he was unfair. Let’s hope that a full pardon will help to correct a very sad part of my life.”
Sourse: vox.com
