Libby Prison Commutation Elicits Anger, Applause

GWEN IFILL:

Wiping out Scooter Libby's prison time, the president's reasons, and the arguments against them. Judy Woodruff has our coverage.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

President Bush's move to spare former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby from a 30-month prison term has set off a barrage of criticism, mainly from Democrats. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued a statement arguing the president's decision does not serve justice, condones criminal conduct, and is a betrayal of trust of the American people.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the commutation of Libby's sentence "disgraceful." And Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said, "Even Paris Hilton went to jail. No one in this administration should be above the law."

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose husband was criticized for pardons he made as president, weighed in during a campaign stop last night in Iowa.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), New York: What we saw today was elevating cronyism over the rule of law. And what we saw today was further evidence that this administration has no regard whatsoever for what needs to be held sacred. And when I'm president, we're going to get back to cherishing the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, and putting forth the best values of America for the entire world to see again.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for his conviction in March on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the leaked identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. During today's White House briefing, spokesman Tony Snow defended the president's decision.

TONY SNOW, White House Press Secretary:

The president has the power to commute, and he used it, and he used it in a manner that he saw fit. That's not trying to have it both ways. What the president said is that he is not going to go in and overturn what the jury did. On the other hand, again, he thought that the penalty was excessive.

He is certainly permitted to do that. You'll concede that the president does have that power constitutionally and, furthermore, that this president has done it very carefully. If he had decided that he wanted to commute the sentence and get rid of all punishment but still keep intact the felony, he could have done that.

But instead what he did was he said that he believes that, when somebody is convicted of this punishment, it is worth having — I mean, of this crime, it is certainly worth respecting the jury's decision and having significant and severe punishment. And I guarantee you a quick show of hands, how many people in this room think that $250,000 is a wrist slap or that two years in probation or, in fact, the loss of your career is somehow a trivial punishment? This is serious punishment.