Judge Orders Libby to Prison

Defense likely to appeal trial court's ruling
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 14, 2007 3:42 PM CDT
Judge Orders Libby to Prison
Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, right, is escorted to a waiting vehicle with his attorney, Theodore Well, left, outside federal Court in Washington, Thursday, June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)   (Associated Press)

Scooter Libby may not remain free pending appeal, the judge in his perjury trial ruled today, and must begin serving his 30-month sentence this summer. His defense team will turn next to a federal appeals court, the Washington Post reports, but the most pressing legal question now is whether President Bush will pardon the VP's onetime right-hand man.

A spokeswoman said the president will not step in while the case proceeds, but he "feels terribly for Scooter," the only person charged in connection with the CIA leak investigation. Judge Reggie Walton opened today's session by revealing that he has received letters and calls threating him and his family and asserting that they would not bear on his ruling. (More CIA leak investigation stories.)

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