WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Tuesday defended President Bush's decision to commute the sentence of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis Libby.
At the regular daily news briefing, Snow told reporters the president took what he "thinks is the proper approach and the proper way of dealing with this case."
Libby was convicted of lying to investigators probing the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison, two years probation and a $250,000 fine. Bush threw out the jail time but left the probation and fine intact after the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to allow Libby to remain out on bail pending appeal. No one has been charged with the leak itself.
"The president thought the jail time in fact was inappropriate," Snow said, adding: "He said it was excessive, and he thought that any jail time was excessive. And therefore he did not see fit to have Scooter Libby taken to jail."
Snow did not say whether Vice President Dick Cheney or anyone else had any input in the decision.
Asked whether the commutation was issued because the president feared Libby might reveal damaging White House secrets if jailed, Snow said no. He also denied politics played any role or that any special favors were granted.
