Barnes: Libby Should Be Pardoned Because He ‘Didn’t Really Seriously Impede The Investigation’
Barnes: Libby Should Be Pardoned Because He ‘Didn’t Really Seriously Impede The Investigation’
On Fox this evening, Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes argued that Bush will pardon Scooter Libby because “he didn’t really seriously impede the investigation,” and “he’s been a loyal and effective member of this administration.” Watch it.
In fact, Libby did “seriously impede the investigation.” Count 1 on the jury’s verdict ruled that Libby had obstructed the investigation, preventing special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald from conclusively determining why he disclosed undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity to reporters. As Fitzgerald previously explained: “What we have when someone charges obstruction of justice, the umpire gets sand thrown in his eyes. He’s trying to figure what happened and somebody blocked their view.”
Libby now faces up to 10 years in prison for the obstruction count alone.
While the White House did not offer much comment in response to the Libby indictment, press spokeswoman Dana Perino notably did not rule out a pardon. Perino claimed Bush “respected the jury’s verdict.” Respect can be shown by honoring the jury’s finding that Libby deserves punishment for impeding a serious national security investigation.
UPDATE: Newshounds notes that while Fox News’ conservatives have been spinning the Libby decision, the network’s purported “liberal” legal analyst Greta van Sustern has never mentioned the Libby trial.
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80 Responses to “Barnes: Libby Should Be Pardoned Because He ‘Didn’t Really Seriously Impede The Investigation’”
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What investigation? The jurors get it. Where are Rove and the other criminals?
March 6th, 2007 at 8:39 pmWhat happened to the rule of law? Dude?
March 6th, 2007 at 8:47 pmYeah yeah let em’ all try to calm each other down and make each other feel better, you 30%ers.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:47 pmFred Barnes is a dumb, bootlicking j*ck*ss.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:48 pm[…] me but the left seems to being singing a much different tune now.Others […]
March 6th, 2007 at 8:50 pmPatrick Where are you? I just won the jellyfishing contest.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:51 pmThe right wing noise machine is just getting warmed up. Wait till the Judge denies Libby’s motion for a new Trial. That’ll really get them going. And Troll appereance in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….
March 6th, 2007 at 8:53 pmYeah, totally disrespect the jury, why don’t you, Barnes?
March 6th, 2007 at 8:54 pmI think the name Scooter will make for some jovial banter with his new cell-mate.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:55 pmBarnes should be indicted and given a prison term as well.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:55 pmHa! Spongebob beat me to it. Dang!
March 6th, 2007 at 8:55 pmYeah what the hell, Barnes is next.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:57 pmNo Fred Barnes you simple fu*ck he didn’t impede the investigation at all, just as you say.
He is part and parcel to the whole reason that their was an investigation in the first place.
Nice attempt at trying to move coconuts and peas thinking no one would notice however, you snake Fred Barnes.
You really aren’t very bright are you.
March 6th, 2007 at 8:59 pmThe question remains: What did the President know and when did he know it.
If he did not know, he is even more of a tool than I gave him credit for.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:01 pmRachel’s feeling better. :)
March 6th, 2007 at 9:01 pmI think someone got a little tard pone mixed in with thier whiskey pone.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:01 pmBoosch will not pardon Libby because:
1.- He won’t dare
March 6th, 2007 at 9:03 pm2.- He doesn’t care
The conservatives can’t have it both ways. If the Rule Of Law does not apply to everyone, then the law becomes arbitrary and the idea of justice meaningless. If the Republicans considered trying to conceal a marital infidelity serious enough to charge President Clinton with obstruction of justice and begin impeachment proceedings, then they should also consider it an obstruction of justice when someone lies to the Department of Justice in the midst of a federal investigation on a matter of national security!
March 6th, 2007 at 9:04 pmHonestly, if you’re Fred Barnes, do you really want your own journalistic legacy to be known as fellating the worst president to ever hold the office as frequently as possible?
March 6th, 2007 at 9:06 pmBarnes might be right. Clearly, Rove and Cheney were the real villains in this mess. It must sting hacks like Barnes to have to say, “Convicted felon, White House Aide, Lewis Libby.”
March 6th, 2007 at 9:06 pm1 down, 2 to go.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:07 pmFred Barnes, what a dork
March 6th, 2007 at 9:08 pmDoVoyeur,
Go whore your trash elsewhere.
I told you that a few days ago.
Pervert.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:08 pmLibby should absolutely NOT be pardoned - he was cognizant of what he was involved in, how he DEFINITELY obstructed justice by his perjury under oath (ahem - HUGE breaking of the law here) and knew that, in exchange for his high salary, he would be asked to complete tasks which might be unsavory or downright illegal. He has a mouth and, as far as I can tell, knows how to use it. When he was requested by his boss to violate the law, he should have refused and/or resigned from his position. The fact is that he, QUITE MISTAKENLY, assumed that his lying and implicating members of the press would afford him a convenient alibi in an “inconvenient jam” - WRONG! I feel no sympathy for Scooter - he knew he was being “used” and “agreed to it wholeheartedly”. Now he must pay to the piper for his actions.
The last time I looked “outing a covert agent” results in the crime of “treason” and it’s beginning to become obvious that the crime of “high treason” is now relevant to both Cheney and Bush.
If these two weren’t persona non grata with the american people up to now (and an abysmally low 29% of people out there who are part of the Bush Cabal Base) they certainly have been shown to be repugnant and capricious with sheer contempt for the laws they swear to uphold.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:09 pm60% now want US out of Iraq. 9 soldiers die today.
What the f”k. Why aren’t Hilary and Obama calling for withdrawal now.
What is wrong with the Dems. Enquiring minds want to know.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:09 pmDoVoyeur Get the F*ck out of here.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:09 pmIt’s “cryin’ time” for the GOP now! For the people, it’s time to press for immediate IMPEACHMENT based on the mountain of information given under oath about the complicity of both Bush and Cheney. If we impeached a president for an extramarital relationship, certainly it behooves us to impeach a president and veep who have engaged in outright “treason” against this democracy.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:11 pmLibby is nothing more than a very pedestrian prostitute - one who is paid to be abused. He’s become the “whipping boy” which is a betrayal he knew might occur when he took the job and was paid the salary. Sorry - a whore is a whore is a whore!
March 6th, 2007 at 9:13 pmBrian Williams is on nightly news reporting from Ramadhi prattling on how he can have a normal conversation in the streets of Ramadhi, albeit he’s surrounded and protected by American troops, whereas a few weeks ago it was a no man’s land.
What kind of sniveling crap is he reporting. He thinks this represents progress? Why are the corporate media outlets still trying to sell this war to us when the people want it to end.
And where the f”k are the Dems on this issue. Fumbling around. There’s no way I will vote for any Dem candidate who doesn’t recant voting for this war in the first place, and who isn’t calling for withdrawal. There’s no way in hell.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:13 pmAnd I am not alone in that sentiment.
Barnes might be right. Clearly, Rove and Cheney were the real villains in this mess. It must sting hacks like Barnes to have to say, “Convicted felon, White House Aide, Lewis Libby.†— AboveTheClouds
******************************************
Why are you defending Barnes?? The question of whether Rove and Cheney were the real villains in this scenario is actually beside the point. Barnes is effectively suggesting that what Libby did wasn’t really all that bad and that he doesn’t really deserve to be punished — but it was, and he does.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:16 pm#26 Any candidate who doesn’t ask for immediate withdrawal of troops will suffer the fate of John McCain - his numbers are sinking like the Titanic since he remains pro-war. He shouldn’t even spend the money to campaign and probably will drop out over the course of the next few months.
If Obama and Hillary (particularly Hillary who voted “yes” to “enable” this horrendous war and who really was in a position of “inside knowledge and history having sat in the WH for 8 years!!) fail to listen to the voice of the people and begin making serious noise soon, they will join the ranks of John McCain - as an “also ran” candidate.
Frankly, I don’t see anyone who voted “yes” and suffers from the “hindsight syndrome” being qualified to be President at this point and would love to see Feingold change his mind….along with Wesley Clark running…..Obama, of course, wasn’t in a position to vote but was loudly vocal against the war from the outset so he’s “worthy” but the rest of these clowns who took their vote so lightly cannot now turn around and convince americans that they are deserving……absolutely not. For starters, most americans will never forgive them for being so nonchalant with their power - and can never trust them in the future to have the wisdom to do the right thing….
That goes for Biden, Edwards, Lieberman, & McCain.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:19 pmI’m with you CoL and they know me well already..( The polatician’s that is)…Blessings
March 6th, 2007 at 9:21 pmUPDATE: Newshounds notes that while Fox News’ conservatives have been spinning the Libby decision, the network’s purported “liberal†legal analyst Greta van Sustern has never mentioned the Libby trial.
I wonder if it would be worth it to send some emails to Greta and see if she’ll go “on the record” with an opinion on this. There might be an interesting clash there between her opinion and the opinion of Fox…
March 6th, 2007 at 9:22 pmMy ancestors were here before the American Revolution, and I say Barnes, Bush, Libby et al are royalist imperialists who should be sent back to England. They are against what the revolution stands for, they are elitist shills and criminals, who should be taken out in handcuffs for acting to undermine the US Constitution.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:23 pmCome on people! I was just following orders! What would you do if shooter asked you to do this? You all know you would have done what I did. Besides, us Republicans are above the law. We make laws for you little peons to live by, not us superior humans! So lay off my a$$. It’s going to be sore enough after Bubba gets done with it.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:24 pmIt is certainly good to see that sharp, incisive, legal mind of Greta van Sustern at work. She probably saw the talking points put out by Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch, gave a smart salute, and told Roger Ailes that she was reporting for duty. Ailes says jump and Ms. van Sustern says how high?
March 6th, 2007 at 9:26 pmChildrenofLir,
I’m pretty sure no one else wants them.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:27 pmThis is a complex, two pronged situation: Libby absolutely “deserves” to be sent to prison and the jury did what was needed to uphold the law and bring justice to the american people.
Libby, unfortuantely, is the “fall guy” in that Rove, Cheney and Bush were the masterminds of this intentional outing of Plame. Libby was not incompetent when he decided to out Valerie Plame nor was he unconscious when he decided to lie about it. The lie was cooked up, no doubt, by the four of them who thought they’d pull a coup on the reporters involved. The lie backfired and Libby went down as the “scapegoat”. What the prosecutor handily did, however, was to “out” this administration of smoke and mirrors and present a clear, under oath picture of just how diabolical these individuals are in order to get their way.
No doubt this opens a greater dialogue now - this is not just about the outing of a covert agent and treason - nor is it about the criminal act of perjury - it’s about the “why” of the outing and the lies which we were all fed to lead us into this war. This larger picture involves the unnecessary deaths of 3,000+ americans and untold numbers of innocent Iraqis. The next trial (Bush and Cheney) would then be about how these lies have resulted in the death of thousands of people. I smell the ghost of Hitler rising, don’t you?
March 6th, 2007 at 9:27 pm#34 Hey white man, my ancestors were here before yours were. But I like what white man speaks. He speaks wisdom. Cochise say white man can stay.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:27 pmGreat post’s Veritas, and as alway’s I like your style and agree…..Kucinich so far is up front, with Obama following close…..Can’t remember Gore’s stand but then he is not running…Blessings
March 6th, 2007 at 9:28 pmGreta van Sustern is the “liberal†legal analyst ???
why? … how? … who knew?!
oh! this is a good news day! … and i missed it!
i spent the day with my mom and 2 winger sisters… visiting an aunt…
the only venture into political talk, fortunately, was a mostly positive exchange about obama, but then of course hillary was brought in and bill had to follow and my ditto head sister went off about how sinister the clinton’s are and the 100+ pardons of crooks and felons are proof of that…
…and i’m thinking ‘and what did you hate before that???’…
i just shook my head, said ‘he’s got nothing on these guys’…
but, had i known about THIS verdict and conviction … !!!
March 6th, 2007 at 9:31 pm…
As far as outing a CIA agent - it’s the damn CIA that has gotten the US into most of the messes we’ve ended up in for the past 50 years - assassinations, toppling governments, causing coups, and they’re still doing it today - undermining economies of poor countries - it’s disgusting.
So the fact that a CIA agent was outed does not concern me. As far as I am concerned the CIA should be done away with, along with the military industrial complex and a standing army, none of which did we have prior to WWII.
However, I am glad that Libby, a liar and shill for his master, has been found guilty of lying and shilling. These high paid whores need to be put in jail.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:31 pmMuch obliged Cochise. And may I take this moment to apologize for some of my ancestors behavior. They did participate in what they called Indian Wars. A pretty nasty bunch some of my ancestors.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:33 pmBluestocking: Believe me, I am not defending a shit like Barnes at all. I am saying they are all criminals.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:34 pmWhat now? Congressional investigations, with subpoena power? I can hear Libby repeating like a broken record: I decline to answer that question under my 5th amendment rights. However, if Bush pardons him… It would seem (and I am no lawyer) that the 5th amendment would be moot, for how can you incriminate yourself for something you’ve already recieved a full pardon for.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:34 pmno doubt Bush will pardon him … country-club justice for conservative white collar criminals … there are several felons in the White House … Libby was simply tagged as one
March 6th, 2007 at 9:35 pmhave you seen this?
March 6th, 2007 at 9:36 pmLibby’s guilty verdict: Media myths and falsehoods to watch for
http://mediamatters.org/
Yeah, I’ve already seen these talking points since the verdict.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:47 pm“a loyal and effective member of this administration”
Well, there’s the problem in a nutshell, wouldn’t you say?
March 6th, 2007 at 9:47 pmI would go one step further. Conservatives seem to think that impeding an investigation and obstructing justice is perfectly fine…just as long as you don’t really SERIOUSLY impede and obstruct.
Here’s a novel idea. How about if these conservatives just FOLLOW THE DAMN LAW.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:31 pmI’d guess he was against the impeachment of Clinton, too. Yeah, right….
March 6th, 2007 at 10:31 pmThe extent to which Libby impeded the investigation is absolutely beside the point. What is the point is that he broke the law and was convicted by a jury of his peers.
What Fred Barnes is advocating is for the Executive branch to ignore a verdict, and do as they please -again, as with the warrantless, illegal wiretapping (yes, I do realise granting pardons is well within the Presidential powers; however, in this case, a pardon would not be to right a wrong but purely for political reasons. I firmly believe this would be an egregious use of the presidential pardon powers).
Why even have laws then, if the president can rule by edict?
March 6th, 2007 at 10:33 pmSo the fact that a CIA agent was outed does not concern me. As far as I am concerned the CIA should be done away with, along with the military industrial complex and a standing army, none of which did we have prior to WWII.
Comment by ChildrenofLir
Great post!!!
March 6th, 2007 at 10:57 pmAhhh, the “Below the Beltway Boys” with their incisive rhetoric…
March 6th, 2007 at 11:00 pmFred Barnes, THE ONLY WAY Libby WILL BE PARDONED IS IF YOU PULL A TALE OF TWO CITIES Sydney Carton SWITCH AND SERVE Libby/Darnay’s 30 YEAR SENTENCE FOR HIM!!!! “It’s a FAR FAR better thing that THAT FOUR-EYED F*CK Barnes DOES, THAN HE’S EVER DONE BEFORE OR SINCE…”
March 6th, 2007 at 11:10 pmIt was the best of times, and the worst of times.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:33 pm“No Fred Barnes you simple fu*ck he didn’t impede the investigation at all, just as you say.
Comment by rachel rj kinnardi — March 6, 2007 @ 8:59 pm”
And you can back this up Rachel?
March 6th, 2007 at 11:38 pm“Rachel’s feeling better. :)
Comment by Zooey — March 6, 2007 @ 9:01 pm”
Must be the brain meds?
March 6th, 2007 at 11:39 pmMust be the brain meds?
Comment by michael — March 6, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
You should give them a try - you could use them.
March 7th, 2007 at 12:01 amBoosch will not pardon Libby because:
1.- He won’t dare
2.- He doesn’t care
Considering Libby now has to use his bargaining power to get a lower sentence I would say you are wrong. If Libby starts squealing on Cheney he will be pardoned immediately.
March 7th, 2007 at 12:02 am#57 Well, jeez, Michael, Libby was convicted of obstructing an investigation. What, exactly, does Rachel have to back up?
March 7th, 2007 at 12:05 amSorry asshats
March 7th, 2007 at 1:11 amFitzgerald has made it clear.There will be no more indictments.
Barnes looks like the grandpa that molested Tucker Carlson. Those sick a**holes are a bunch of freaks and fools.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:18 amSorry asshats
Fitzgerald has made it clear.There will be no more indictments.
Comment by Flaco — March 7, 2007 @ 1:11 am
Sorry turdblossom, the ugliest asshat around, but he said no such thing. He left open the possibility that Libby would flip and re-open the investigation. That’s what you do with ‘mobsters’, like you fcuking GOP slime.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:20 amSo the fact that a CIA agent was outed does not concern me. As far as I am concerned the CIA should be done away with, along with the military industrial complex and a standing army, none of which did we have prior to WWII.
Comment by ChildrenofLir
The CIA is an out of control organization. A clandestine army that operates under secret budget with no congressional oversite. They’ve stirred up so much shit over the last 50 years. The CIA has probably done our country more harm than good over its lifetime.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:56 am[…] Will Bush pardon Libby? Fox seems to think so. […]
March 7th, 2007 at 7:41 amNow we need to go after the true perpretators : Chimpie and Darth Cheney.
Let’s face it : that’s where the true crime is found.
March 7th, 2007 at 8:17 am[…] stop til you get enough? Firedoglake, Boston Globe, Crooks and Liars, The Smirking Chimp, NO QUARTER, […]
March 7th, 2007 at 9:54 amBarnes must have been dozing during the trial. Fitzgerald could not have been more clear in stating that Libby was protecting his boss, Dick Cheney, and as a direct result he could not get the evidence to charge Cheney. He even went so far as to ask Libby 3 different times what Cheney’s instructions were. His refusal to answer this question led directly to one count of obstruction against Libby and the jury said guilty. Barnes seems to doze through life, par for the course for the talking heads on Fox.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:21 amI swear, the jurors made more sense than the pundits.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:52 amJohn Wilkes Booth should also be pardoned, because it was actually the bullet that killed Lincoln, not Booth.
March 7th, 2007 at 11:14 amThese idiots at this round table must sleep hanging upside down. Bush and company has to be paying a lot of money for so called “intellectuals” to come out and make an ass of themselves
March 7th, 2007 at 12:37 pmA pardon is NOT YOUR PERSONAL PLAY-THING. I think there should have to be (at least) a congressional majority vote for pardons, but that’s just me.
I love how these pundits are so quick to throw out the trial because, obviously, they know everything. Weeks of jury deliberation, combing through the facts, after a VERY fair trial isn’t enough?
Why not just pardon everybody guilty of perjury? I bet the criminal justice system would work great if perjury wasn’t a crime.
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There will be no further indictments related to scooter’s perjury and obstruction, Flake-O, that matter is decided. That leaves the possiblity (and likelihood) of all kinds of other indictments, for all of the other illegal things your pals have done, like the high treason of divulging the identity of a cia noc operative.
Hope you choose to stick around and enjoy the rest of the trials and guilty verdicts with us. Should be lots of fun seeing the rest of GOP officialdom face the ultimate disgrace they’ve earned for themselves.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:57 pmInteresting:
LIBBY JUROR: PARDON HIM
Wed Mar 07 2007 19:21:48 ET
MSNBC host Chris Matthews spoke with Libby juror Ann Redington on HARDBALL. Juror [#10] says she would support a Bush pardon for Libby.
Transcript:
Chris: You’re for a pardon out of sympathy for the defendant.
Ann: Yeah, I think in the big picture, um, it kind of bothers me that there was this whole big crime being investigated and he got caught up in the investigation as opposed to in the actual crime that was supposedly committed.
Chris: Which is the leaking of a CIA agents name.
Ann: Exactly.
March 7th, 2007 at 8:33 pmEnd
It seems remarkable to me that Barnes who always claims to be so moral, so Christian, so ethical isn’t a bit concerned about the ethical implications of what the Bush administration did but now falls back on the claim “everyone does it” and “he was a loyal servant of the President. Is it any wonder Americans no longer are buying his crap?
March 7th, 2007 at 8:51 pmHey,
I don’t know if Libby should be pardoned or not; it’s a tough call. But I would like to point out to anyone who doesn’t know yet that someone put PardonLibby.org up for sale on eBay. I wonder what it’ll go for. Here’s the address:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ ws/ eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130088305011&rd=1&rd=1
March 8th, 2007 at 11:04 pm[…] Makes The Case Posted on 3/8/2007 3:03 PM by brianrApprove (6) | Reject (0) | My vote: None Think Progress Watch the quick video through the linkage… Barnes: Libby Should Be Pardoned Because He […]
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm[…] Investigation” Posted on 3/8/2007 3:02 PM by brianrApprove (6) | Reject (0) | My vote: None Think Progress Barnes makes the case why Libby should and will get pardoned. Watch the video through the […]
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm