Changes

Almost from the beginning of his trial the President was encouraged to pardon Libby. Among those calling for pardon were [[William F. Buckley]], Jr, [[Fred Thompson]], Cal Thomas, [[Ann Coulter]], Jack Kemp, [[Tom DeLay]].<ref>http://libbypardon.net/procon.htm</ref> and Robert Bauer, general counsel to [[Barack Obama]]<ref>[http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-aide-wants-libby-pardoned-2007-06-14.html Obama aide wants Libby pardoned], By Sam Youngman, ''The Hill'', June 14, 2007.</ref> But the trial continued and sentence was announced without presidential interference. As decisions were being made regarding the possibility of bail, many believed President Bush's hand would be forced, that he would have to grant a pardon in order to spare Libby from entering prison. <ref>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWY2MzRiNTAwZmE3NjZhMzZmODNhMTcyYjUzYzc4MjQ= "Respite for Libby?"] ''National Review'', June 14, 2007</ref>

Almost from the beginning of his trial the President was encouraged to pardon Libby. Among those calling for pardon were [[William F. Buckley]], Jr, [[Fred Thompson]], Cal Thomas, [[Ann Coulter]], Jack Kemp, [[Tom DeLay]].<ref>http://libbypardon.net/procon.htm</ref> and Robert Bauer, general counsel to [[Barack Obama]]<ref>[http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-aide-wants-libby-pardoned-2007-06-14.html Obama aide wants Libby pardoned], By Sam Youngman, ''The Hill'', June 14, 2007.</ref> But the trial continued and sentence was announced without presidential interference. As decisions were being made regarding the possibility of bail, many believed President Bush's hand would be forced, that he would have to grant a pardon in order to spare Libby from entering prison. <ref>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWY2MzRiNTAwZmE3NjZhMzZmODNhMTcyYjUzYzc4MjQ= "Respite for Libby?"] ''National Review'', June 14, 2007</ref>

On July 2, 2007, after a ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Libby's prison sentence couldn't be suspended as the appeals process was pursued, President Bush's hand was forced and he commuted Libby's prison sentence.  This means that while Libby will serve no jail time, he will still have to pay the fine, stay on probation, and the conviction will remain on his record. <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070702-4.html] "Grant of Executive Clemency, July 2, 2007",</ref> This decision was decried by Democratic Party Presidential candidates [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]] <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aA.bUy89_1hk&refer=homeBush Commutes Libby's Prison Term in CIA Leak Case], By Edwin Chen, "Bloomberg.com", July 2, 2007.</ref> though supported by a select few conservatives so removed from the real world their opinions are laughed at by a large majority of the voting public.  Seriously if you people don't think this is a gross abuse of power than there must be crack in that Kool-Aid you've been drinking the past 6 years.

On July 2, 2007, after a ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Libby's prison sentence couldn't be suspended as the appeals process was pursued, President Bush's hand was forced and he commuted Libby's prison sentence.  This means that while Libby will serve no jail time, he will still have to pay the fine, stay on probation, and the conviction will remain on his record. <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070702-4.html] "Grant of Executive Clemency, July 2, 2007",</ref> This decision was decried by Democratic Party Presidential candidates [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]] <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aA.bUy89_1hk&refer=homeBush Commutes Libby's Prison Term in CIA Leak Case], By Edwin Chen, "Bloomberg.com", July 2, 2007.</ref> though supported by others.

==References==

==References==