Pardon Me?

Will Bush let a former caporegime off the hook for old time's sake?
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:47 AM CDT
Pardon Me?
This artist rendering shows former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, standing, center, flanked by his attorneys Theodore Wells, right, and William Jeffress, Jr., left, before U.S District Judge Reggie Walton, far left, during Libby's sentencing hearing, Tuesday, June 5, 2007, in federal court...   (Associated Press)

Yesterday's steep sentence for Scooter Libby is forcing Bush's hand on a possible pardon for the convicted perjurer. Judge Reggie Walton probably won't let Cheney's former chief of staff remain free pending appeals, WaPo reports, so the president is short on time if he wants to spare a close and popular ally a prison stay.

The White House, already beset by charges of cronyism, has only made temporary promises that the president "is not going to intervene." But pressure is mounting from neocons to spend Bush's paltry political capital to save Libby. Meanwhile, the topic is so touchy that West Wingers have been briefed not to bring it up. (More George W. Bush stories.)

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