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President Bush commuted the prison sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby on Monday, according to news reports.
Bush's move came after a federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., earlier Monday ruled that Libby had to begin serving a 2 1/2-year prison term. Libby was convicted in March for lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative, The New York Times reported on its Web site.
Although Libby, 56, the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, was spared a federal prison sentence, his conviction still stands.
"My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby,'' Bush said in a statement. "The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant and private citizen will be long-lasting.''
Libby still must pay a $250,000 fine and serve two years' probation, according to The Associated Press, but can continue to appeal his conviction and the fine. The issue of whether to pardon Libby has been an issue in candidates' debates for the 2008 presidential election.
President Bush commuted the prison sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby on Monday, according to news reports.
Bush's move came after a federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., earlier Monday ruled that Libby had to begin serving a 2 1/2-year prison term. Libby was convicted in March for lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative, The New York Times reported on its Web site.
Although Libby, 56, the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, was spared a federal prison sentence, his conviction still stands.
"My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby,'' Bush said in a statement. "The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant and private citizen will be long-lasting.''
Libby still must pay a $250,000 fine and serve two years' probation, according to The Associated Press, but can continue to appeal his conviction and the fine. The issue of whether to pardon Libby has been an issue in candidates' debates for the 2008 presidential election.
