On this evening's "Countdown" Keith Olbermann interviewed Ambassador Joe Wilson about the President's commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence. Wilson held little back, referring to President Bush as "corrupt to the core" and describes how this national disgrace affects his wife, Valerie Plame, the victim of Libby's crimes, and it's implications for current and future CIA operatives. Ambassador Wilson also calls on Patrick Fitzgerald to release all information he amassed during his investigation and for Congress to open an investigation to find out what really happened.
The President's actions are a slap in the face to the Wilsons and the nation. If you would like to help support the Wilsons please visit their website - http://www.wilsonsupport.org/
Patrick Fitzgerald has responded, you can read it below the fold...
We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation
decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not
comment on the exercise of that prerogative.
We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the
sentence imposed by the judge as "excessive." The sentence in this
case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which
occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced
federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then
imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is
fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar
of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the
trial and the sentencing.
Although the President's decision eliminates Mr. Libby's sentence of
imprisonment, Mr. Libby remains convicted by a jury of serious
felonies, and we will continue to seek to preserve those convictions
through the appeals process.