Schakowsky Statement on President's Commutation of Scooter Libby's Sentence

SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S COMMUTATION OF
SCOOTER LIBBY'S SENTENCE

Washington, D.C. —U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement after President Bush commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence yesterday evening. I. Lewis "Scooter... Libby, Jr., former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being convicted for obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements to FBI investigators for his role in leaking the identity of a CIA operative.

"I am very disappointed by the President's decision to commute Scooter Libby's sentence, but frankly I am not surprised. This decision was not based on the facts or merits of the case; it was clearly political payback for being the scapegoat in the Valerie Plame affair.

The Bush Administration has been playing fast and loose with the law since the first day they took office. Whether it's authorizing warrantless wiretapping, suspending habeas corpus, torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib or revealing the identity of an undercover CIA agent for political payback, the Bush Administration has constantly shown a blatant disregard for the rule of law. Instead of enforcing the law, the Bush Administration has defended and even rewarded people, like Scooter Libby, who have broken the law.

I strongly believe that this is the most corrupt Administration in the history of our country. At every turn, this Administration has abused its power, ignored the law and used fear to manipulate the American people for political gain....