Editorial: A pardon for Libby?

Friday, June 8, 2007 | 7:18 a.m.

P resident Bush has not ruled out a pardon for convicted liar Scooter Libby, which is not surprising given Bush's belief in loyalty and the support Libby is garnering among conservatives.

Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, was sentenced this week to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for obstruction of justice, perjury and lying to the FBI agents investigating the leak of a CIA agent name.

Republican presidential candidates and conservative commentators are clamoring for a pardon. Probable presidential candidate Fred Thompson, a former senator and one-time prosecutor, said he would "absolutely" pardon Libby, calling the sentence a "gross injustice." Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a former U.S. attorney, said the "excessive" sentence "argues more in favor of a pardon."

That is merely political posturing. Libby's actions were unconscionable.

Libby had a responsibility to uphold the public's trust, which was shattered when he lied and misled investigators in an attempt to cover up wrongdoing.

Only two Republican presidential candidates have ruled out a pardon, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore. Gilmore, a former Virginia attorney general, told the Los Angeles Times that a pardon would undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system if people believe "there's one law for a certain group of people in high places and another law for regular people."

Gilmore is correct. Pardoning Libby would set a terrible precedent and would pervert justice.