WP: Standing by Their Man
By Dana Milbank
Wednesday, June 6, 2007; Page A02
You knew Scooter Libby was in trouble at yesterday's sentencing hearing when his lawyer decided to read the judge a character reference -- from Paul Wolfowitz.
Wolfowitz, the soon-to-be-former World Bank president, has been in need of some character references himself since he lost his job because of a raise he arranged for his girlfriend. But in a letter dated 11 days after he announced his departure, a selfless Wolfowitz urged "maximum possible leniency" for his friend, who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Valerie Plame leak case....
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Judge Reggie Walton was clearly unimpressed with this and the five other letters Wells chose to read aloud. "I have read all the letters," he said, interrupting Wells....Walton gave Libby a stiff sentence of 30 months in prison and hinted that he won't grant bail to the former aide to Vice President Cheney while he pursues his appeal. In doing so, the judge rejected not only the wishes of Wolfowitz but also a brief, poignant plea from Libby himself.
"I realize fully that the court must decide on punishment," the wiry defendant said. It was the first time he spoke in court during the trial, except for a "Yes, sir" response to a question from the judge early on. In a gentle voice, he continued: "It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life."...
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Fitzgerald, true to form, made his argument in eight succinct minutes. "Truth matters above all else in the judicial system," he argued. "One's station in life does not matter."...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR2007060502412_2.html?hpid=topnews