Friends in High Places

This morning, Scooter Libby sure is glad that he’s got friends in high places. Namely, Dick Cheney and George Bush.

In case you didn’t see the news last night, President Bush commuted the portion of Libby’s sentence that required him to spend 30 months in prison. Libby had recently been convicted of lying and obstruction of justice in a CIA leak case.

Regardless of your politics, this kind of action has to upset you. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue as much as it is an issue of the rich and powerful having special benefits that the rest of us do not. Libby, the former chief of staff for Dick Cheney, committed a serious crime and was justly given a prison term of 30 months, a $250,000 fine and probation. He will now only have to deal with the fine, which I’m sure he will be able to afford, and probation.

President Bush had this to say about his decision, “I respect the jury’s verdict, but I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend 30 months in prison.” He said that his action still “leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby.”

What makes Libby’s case even more scandalous is the story behind his obstruction charge. Somehow, the name of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame was leaked to the media. Plame believes that this was purposefully done by the Bush administration as retribution against her husband, Joseph Wilson, a vocal critic of the Iraq war. Libby lied and tried to cover up the leak when questioned. You can read more about the case here.

This is the kind of politics that Americans cannot accept. These elected officials are there to represent us and look out for the country. In no way do actions like this benefit the citizens of this country.