Scooter Libby: Do Not Pass "Go", Go Directly to Jail

by Jordan Yerman | June 14, 2007 at 10:23 am

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All the Paris Hilton coverage eclipsed the sentencig of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former aide to Vice president Dick Cheney. Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice over the cover-up of who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to the media. It's worth noting that Libby is a relatively low-level player in this; the one responsible for leaking Ms. Plame's name has not yet been publicly acknowledged.

Former White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been told he cannot delay starting his jail term while he appeals against his conviction.

Libby was found guilty of obstruction of justice and perjury over the inquiry into the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame and sentenced to 30 months' jail.

The ruling means Libby could go to jail within weeks. His lawyers will seek to block the decision in an appeals court.

Libby was the former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Nobody has ever been charged with the offence of leaking the identity of Ms Plame, whose husband criticised the Iraq war.

Emergency order

The attempt by Libby's lawyers to delay his jail term was seen as a long shot because US District Judge Reggie B Walton had already said he saw no reason to grant the request.

His lawyers will now go to an appeals court to seek an emergency order delaying his prison sentence. They are also appealing against Libby's conviction.