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Bush commutes Libby’s prison sentence - CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush commuted Monday the prison term of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, facing 30 months in prison after a federal court convicted him of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators.

A commutation is distinct from a pardon, which is a complete eradication of a conviction record — making it the same as if the person has never been convicted.

Bush has only commuted the jail term, which means that the conviction remains on Libby’s record and he must still pay a $250,000 fine.

Commutations are rarely granted, says CNN’s chief legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin. A commutation is a total right of the president and it cannot be challenged by any attorney or court, he said.

I wish I could say I am surprised or saddened but this is just par for the course. We all knew it was going to happen since the moment the leak was pinpointed to the White House and so what can I say that hasn’t already been said.

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Filed under: Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Scooter Libby, Valerie Plame