Pardon talk for Libby begins

[kpete]

Nation
Pardon talk for Libby begins

BY TOM BRUNE
Newsday Washington Bureau

June 17, 2006, 10:48 PM EDT


WASHINGTON -- Now that top White House aide Karl Rove is off the hook in the CIA leak probe, President George W. Bush must weigh whether to pardon former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the only one indicted in the three-year investigation.

Speculation about a pardon began in late October, soon after Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald unsealed the perjury indictment of Libby, and it continued last week after Fitzgerald chose not to charge Rove.

"I think ultimately, of course, there are going to be pardons," said Joseph diGenova, a former prosecutor and an old Washington hand who shares that view with many pundits.

"These are the kinds of cases in which historically presidents have given pardons," said the veteran Republican attorney.

more at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uspard0618,0,467087.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

[diamondsndust]

1. I never doubted that there would be pardons...

but it's still important to get the indictments, if for no other reason than to show these corrupt criminal bastards for what they are.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Historically Presidents do not pardon

members of their own administration (except for Bush Sr.) for crimes that they themselves are connected to.

Bush can't be allowed to get away with this crap. There needs to be an enormous public outcry to oppose any such action by these criminals.

[babylonsister]

3. "Bush can't be allowed to get away with this crap."

DoYouEverWonder, I agree, but look at the magnitude of shit he's already gotten away with!
When will it end and who has the power to end it? If not before his 'stint' is up, pardons are inevitable.

[bmcatt]

4. I'm not a lawyer, but...

My understanding is that a pardon in this case would be suicidal. Once pardoned for the crime, Libby could no longer plead the Fifth and would be *obligated* to testify truthfully. If he didn't (and did so in a manner that was provably untrue), he could get tagged on perjury.

Lather, rinse, repeat...

[AndyTiedye]

5. Testify Where? There Isn't Any More Investigation and There Won't Be…

…any more investigations. Gonzales has shut it all down.

[nealmhughes]

6. Frankly, I'm amazed there haven't already been.

Look at how nice the Republicans are with pardons, why they even pardon people who kill nuns by proxy and put them back in the State Dept.

[Rageneau]

7. This is the headwaters of the raging river of RW spin

DiGenova has obviously been selected to be the first soldier to carry the new flag of right-wing spin about Libby and pardons. Obviously, their strategy is to make their minions in the MSM repeat over and over again that pardons in situations like this are almost automatic. Nothing unusual about them at all.

Which is a lie, of course. A Republican lie. But I repeat myself.

[H2O Man]

8. "begins" ....

Nonsense. They have been saying this for a long, long time. Won't happen.

[newyawker99]

9. kick

:kick: