I. “Scooter” Libby, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff who was convicted in 2007 on criminal charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements, was pardoned today by President Trump.
NPR quotes Trump as saying, “I don’t know Mr. Libby, but for years, I have heard that he has been treated unfairly.” It goes on to observe that In pardoning Libby, “Trump, who complains almost daily about leaks, put himself in the peculiar position of pardoning a man convicted of involvement in a national-security leak.” Libby leaked the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.
NPR also notes the timing of the pardon, which comes after the appointment of Cheney friend John Bolton as national security adviser.
President George W. Bush had declined to pardon Libby but did commute his 30-month sentence, sparing Libby from prison. Libby lost his law license as a result of the conviction but gained it back in Washington in 2016.
