Cheney butt out

House Democrats tell Cheney to butt out of Scooter Libby pardon proceedings

Michael Roston Published: Thursday June 7, 2007

Two leading Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee wrote to Vice President Dick Cheney today and urged him to recuse himself from any internal proceedings on granting former top White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby a pardon. On Tuesday, Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison for perjury, obstruction of justice, and making false statement charges.

"In light of your personal involvement in the facts that gave rise to the charges against Mr. Libby, and your apparent stake in a favorable outcome for him, we strongly urge that you recuse yourself...in any future issues that relate to his prosecution," wrote Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) in
the Thursday letter.

They continued, "It would be deeply divisive, and invite deep cynicism and disrespect for the legal process, were the American people to conclude that Mr. Libby undertook actions that subjected him to criminal liability to protect you, knowing...that you would thereafter take steps to protect him from the consequences of his criminal conduct."

Conyers is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Nadler is chair of the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

They were reacting to a recent public statement by Cheney that hinted at the need for a pardon.

"This request is prompted, in part, by your reported comments in which you stated your hope that 'our system will return a final result consistent with what we know of this fine man,'" they wrote.

Earlier on Thursday,
the Associated Press reported that Libby's attorneys formally sought a delay of his sentence while they pursue an appeal of his conviction. But the prospects of this request being granted seemed slim.

"[Federal District Judge Reggie B.] Walton said he sees no reason to allow Libby to remain free pending appeal," wrote Matt Apuzzo.

Conyers and Nadler's full letter can be read at this link.