Boring but important

Libby drops his appeal

Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby has dropped an appeal of his conviction for perjury and obstruction of justice, his attorney said this week. Libby, 51, was convicted in March of lying to federal authorities investigating the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity by Bush administration officials. A jury found that Libby lied about conversations he’d had with reporters about the matter. In July, President Bush commuted Libby’s 30-month sentence, but he let the conviction stand. “We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby’s innocence,” said Libby’s lawyer, Theodore Wells. But Wells said the burdens of Libby’s pursuit of “complete vindication are too great.”

Libby’s decision to drop his appeal may in part be tactical. If the conviction were overturned and Libby granted a retrial, there is a chance he would be convicted again. In that case, Bush’s commutation of his earlier sentence would be voided, and Libby would face the jail time he has avoided. The White House would not comment on the possibility that Bush might yet grant Libby a full pardon.

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