Article I, Section 1, US Constitution:
"All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."

First Amendment to the US Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Seventh Amendment to the US Constitution:
"In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved..."

Pressured for months to pardon Libby by hard-line voices in the conservative establishment, Pres. Bush opted to commute the 30-month prison sentence, leaving the former vice-presidential aide with a $250,000 fine. Libby was convicted of lying to federal prosecutors and obstruction of justice for his actions during the investigation of the leak of former CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.

While the law barring such acts was a jewel in the crown of pro-state-secret conservatives, and the leak itself, for its category, was once classified by the elder Pres. Bush as the most despicable a government agent could commit, conservatives have rallied around Libby as an unfairly targeted scapegoat, and have called for his pardon. Pres. Bush appears to have taken the middle road, using constitutional powers to free his vice president's former chief of staff, but going so far as to reverse the jury verdict.

Critics immediately heaped scorn on the action, saying it was a flagrant abuse of power and that it shows an consistent effort to reward those who violate the law in order to protect top officials who may be implicated in ongoing criminal probes. Others said it demonstrated that the White House believes it is "above the law".

Sen. majority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) said the Libby conviction had been "the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq War. Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone". He also called the commutation "disgraceful" and promised that ongoing investigations would continue to seek to impose accountability on top officials.

Republicans, like Rep. Roy Blunt, said the commutation was necessary and welcome. They termed the prison sentence of 30 months "excessive", though Libby could have faced a much longer sentence, and have repeatedly described Libby as "a good man" who had done years of "service to his country".

No other convictions have emerged from the investigation into the leak of Plame's undercover status to the press, though then deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage has said he was responsible. Prosecutors opted not to file charges against those allegedly responsible for the actual leak. [s]

• Boston Globe: "Bush spares Libby from prison sentence"
• Irish Times: "Bush commutes Libby sentence"
• Chicago Tribune: "Libby Found Guilty in CIA Leak Case"

BACKGROUND:
JURY FINDS LIBBY GUILTY OF LYING, OBSTRUCTION
EX-TOP-AIDE TO VP CHENEY IS HIGHEST GOV'T OFFICIAL CONVICTED OF CRIME SINCE JOHN POINDEXTER IN 1980s IRAN-CONTRA SCANDAL
7 March 2007

The case was complex and convoluted, and risked jeopardizing numerous fundamental values of American liberty and jurisprudence. One reporter was sent to prison and many were subpoenaed and forced to give up their sources. But special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has said the case is now closed, though no one has been charged with the leak of classified information itself. [Full Story]

COURT FILING CITES 'CONCERTED EFFORT' TO ATTACK CRITICS
WASH. POST REPORTS WHITE HOUSE EFFORT TO USE TOP SECRET INFORMATION TO ATTACK CRITICS OF IRAQ POLICY
9 April 2006

Regardless of whether the president or the vice president have done anything illegal, it is now clear that they were both involved in deliberately using classified national security information to smear a critic of their Iraq policy. This contradicts statements made as recently as last week which suggest that the president opposed any such use of sensitive information for personal or political gain. [Full Story]

• Washington Post: "A 'Concerted Effort' to Discredit Bush Critic"
• Globe & Mail: "Libby links Bush to Iraq intelligence leak"
• CNN: "Court Documents: Libby testified that Bush OK'd intelligence leak"

PRES. BUSH LINKED TO LEAK OF INFORMATION TO PRESS
LIBBY SAYS BUSH DECLASSIFIED SENSITIVE IRAQ INTEL TO PERMIT HIM TO LEAK IT TO JUDITH MILLER
7 April 2006

As the case against Lewis "Scooter" Libby proceeds, for violating the federal law prohibiting the disclosure of the classified identities of undercover agents, he has reportedly testified to a grand jury that Pres. Bush was directly involved in the leaking of other information to the press. The information emerges from a court filing by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, citing testimony given during grand jury proceedings. [Full Story]

LIBBY CHARGED WITH PERJURY, OBSTRUCTION, RESIGNS
29 October 2005

The office of the special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, investigating the leaking of the classified identity of an undercover CIA agent, announced Friday a 5-count indictment [PDF] against Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby. Libby was charged on 1 count of obstruction of justice, 2 counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury. [Full Story]