|
July 06, 2007
Libby was accused of obstructing an FBI inquiry into the outing by the Bush administration of a covert CIA agent, Valerie Plame, ending her career. The administration may have been taking revenge for outspoken criticism of the Iraq war by her husband, the former US ambassador Joe Wilson.
Steve Bell
Sidney Blumenthal at Salon.com argues that Bush is entirely within his narrow right to use the pardon power in the Libby case.
But it violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the law governing that power because it is a consummate gesture of self-exoneration, at least if the vice president is an "entity within the executive branch." Bush rewards Libby's cover-up, thwarting the investigation into Cheney's and perhaps his culpability. Bush's commutation is the successful culmination of the obstruction of justice.
Bush will probably issue a full pardon just before leaving office in January 2009.
|
That power is supposed to be a check and balance on a tyrannous judicature. Not a political tool.