A federal judge sentenced I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, to 2 1/2 years in prison for obstructing the investigation into the leak of the identity of a CIA agent.
U.S. Federal Judge Reggie Walton said that during the trial he “watched with a sense of sadness” as evidence overwhelmingly showed that Libby lied to federal prosecutors about his role in receiving and passing along information about a CIA agent.
Walton also fined Libby $250,000 and placed him on probation for two years following his release from prison. The U.S. Bureau of Prison will determine where and when Libby will have to surrender to authorities, but Walton said it’ll take about six to eight weeks.
Libby was convicted in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame during a furious debate over the Iraq war. Nobody was charged for the leak.
Walton said he weighed Libby’s personal standing against the seriousness of the crime and Libby’s special obligation as person in a high-powered position to uphold the law.
Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino, accompanying President Bush on Air Force One from the Czech Republic to Germany Tuesday, told reporters that Bush “felt terrible for [Libby’s] family, especially for his wife and kids.”
Before his sentencing, Libby spoke briefly to Walton. He did not apologize or admit any wrongdoing.
“It is, respectfully, my hope that the court will consider my whole life,” Libby said.
Many prominent Washingtonians wrote letters in support of Libby, including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, outgoing World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Wrote Rumsfield: “My hope and prayer is that his outstanding record, his many contributions to our country and his value as a citizen, will be considered carefully.”
Information from The Associated Press was used for this story.
