JURIST - Paper Chase: Libby sentenced to 30 months in prison for blocking CIA leak probe

[JURIST] US District Judge Reggie B. Walton [official profile] sentenced former vice-presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby [defense website; JURIST news archive] to 30 months in prison Tuesday for his conviction [JURIST report] on two counts of perjury, one count of lying to the FBI and one count of obstruction of justice. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald [official website] had urged that Libby be sentenced to up to three years [JURIST report] for blocking the investigation into the Valerie Plame CIA leak case [JURIST news archive]. Libby's lawyers cited his many years of public service when asking Walton for probation. In addition to the jail time, Libby was also fined $250,000. AP has more.

Walton is expected to release more than 150 letters [JURIST report] he has received in connection to Libby's sentencing. Libby has opposed the release of the letters, saying that the writers did not intend for them to become public. In April, Libby filed documents in court indicating his intention to appeal the conviction [JURIST report]. Libby's appeal may focus on a decision by Walton to allow prosecutors to present evidence to the jury that Libby's defense viewed as being prejudicial, such as White House briefing room videos [JURIST report] which Fitzgerald played to show Libby's eagerness to publicly conceal conversations he had with reporters about Plame.

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