by Mark Silva
Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former assistant to the president and chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, today lost his license to practice law over his conviction for obstruction of justice in the federal investigation of the leak of a CIA agent's identity.
Libby had been found guilty a year ago of obstruction of justice and lying to federal authoriities probing who revealed the name of Valerie Plame, the CIA officer whose husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had traveled to Africa and debunked the Bush administration's argument that Niger was providing uranium to the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Wilson publicly accused the administration of promoting flawed intelligence to promote its case for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which previously had suspended Libby from the practice of law, ruled that this his crimes are considered "moral turpitude" which under the law require disbarment. Libby also has faced stiffed fines in his conviction, but President Bush has commuted the 30-month prison sentence that Libby was handed.
Libby had not been charged with leaking Plame's identity to the news media, but rather impeding the investigation which never resulted in anyone's conviction for revealing the agent's name. Plame claimed the unmasking destroyed her career, a retaliation for her husband;s accusations that the White House manipulated intelligence to make a case for war.
The local Board on Professional Responsibility had recommended that Libby be disbarred, the court said, indicating that Libby had not opposed his disbarment.
Libby may be brushing off his novelist's pen.
Tribune wire services contributed to this report. Photo of Lewis "Scooter'' Libby leaving a federal courthouse last year by Gerald Herbert /AP)





Comments
Mark, did Mr. Clinton lose his law license for lying under oath about getting a hummer from his intern? PA voters need to know. Or do the Clintons ALWAYS get do-overs.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | March 20, 2008 2:23 PM
Next stop for Scooter and his treasonist Republican pals will be the Fed lockup.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designwallah/2299407434/
These Republican war criminals are in for a rude awakening after Jan 09.
Posted by: John E | March 20, 2008 2:41 PM
Mr. Libby, Fox New Crporation is on the phone for you.....
Posted by: kg123 | March 20, 2008 2:46 PM
"GOP JUDICIAL WATCH SPEAKS"
I DO SWEAR TO...UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NO, NO YOUR HONOR, DO NOT RELEASE HIS ARCHIVES. NO, NO YOUR HONOR, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
WE ARE ONLY REQUESTING "THAT WOMANS" AT THIS TIME.
NO, NO, NO YOUR HONOR, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO RELEASE EMAILS, ARCHIVES, VISITATION LOGS, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH KARL ROVE AND SCOOTER LIBBY.
NO, NO, YOUR HONOR, WE AREN'T STANDING BEFORE YOU FOR ANYTHING BUT "THAT WOMANS" WHITE HOUSE "PRESIDENTIAL ARCHIVES"
SO WHAT IF GEORGE BUSH, DICK CHENEY LOST THEIRS. SO WHAT IF SCOOTER LOST HIS. SO WHAT IF KARL ROVE LOST HIS.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE RNC SERVERS.
NO, NO YOUR HONOR, YOU CANNOT RELEASE I SCOOTER LIBBYS WHITE HOUSE LOGS.
THAT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC AND DICK CHENEY'S SECRETS COULD END YOUR CAREER AS YOU KNOW IT.
JUST STICK TO "THAT WOMANS"
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 20, 2008 2:52 PM
"Libby had been found guilty a year ago of obstruction of justice and lying to federal authoriities probing who revealed the name of Judith Plame, the CIA officer whose husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had traveled to Africa and debunked the Bush administration's argument that Niger was providing uranium to the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein."
Shouldn't that be VALERIE Plame?
Posted by: Brad Harvey | March 20, 2008 3:12 PM
Now he and Bill Clinton BOTH can't practice law!
Posted by: Jeff | March 20, 2008 3:12 PM
One down.
Many more to go.
Posted by: BobHusseininATL | March 20, 2008 3:15 PM
So?? I don't care what you think!
Posted by: Dick Cheney | March 20, 2008 3:44 PM
Yes Bud, Clinton license was suspended. How does that make Scooter Libby any less guilty and any less deserving to lose his license?
Posted by: Kate | March 20, 2008 3:54 PM
Now he and Bill Clinton BOTH can't practice law!
Posted by: Jeff | March 20, 2008 3:12 PM
Actually, Jeff, Clinton was suspended from practice for five years as part of the deal to spare him from being indicted. His suspension has already run out. He could practice law again if he chose to do so. Apparently, he just doesn’t care to practice law any more.
Posted by: John W. | March 20, 2008 3:55 PM
I fail to understand why the FBI is taking such an interest in a realtively minor case which did not release any damaging information yet the FBI lets the New York MTA steal billions of dollars and put unsafe subway cars into service in order to make ALL american citizens including Chicago residents pay more taxes to support the crooks of New York Transit. And who ever said AL Capone was so bad? I can be reached at 801 760 5511 if any reporter or FBI agent wants more info
Posted by: Mike Steinbach | March 20, 2008 4:22 PM
Does any person... sorry... any rational person (excl john little weiner e), really believe Bush and Cheney are going to be brought up on war-crime charges when they are out of office? I don't think so.
Why? Because they aren't war criminals... and anybody that wishes to bring up war charges is probably better off just taking justice into their own hands... Many of you would find that option appealing.
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 4:55 PM
Bill Clinton's behavior with ML may have been sleazy & slimy but it did not endanger CIA agents, their work or possibly the safety of US citizens. And why would HIS behavior be used to discredit his wife who, if anything was a victim in the whole sleazy event. If you're going to talk about sex scandals, why is it that every Democrat who is caught resigns but Larry Craig & Vitter are still in office?
Posted by: mwknitter | March 20, 2008 5:04 PM
as for Libby... yes, if Clinton was disbarred, he should be as well. see? I'm reasonable!!
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 5:04 PM
as for Libby... yes, if Clinton was disbarred, he should be as well. see? I'm reasonable!!
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 5:04 PM
Except that Clinton wasn't disbarred. So, now what?
Posted by: John W. | March 20, 2008 5:21 PM
yes... i found that out after posting... I coulda sworn he was. Oh wait... wasn't he disbarred from the Arkansas bar at some point?
Anyways, Libby perjured and should be disbarred.
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 5:27 PM
Clinton got a bj and tried to hide it..it was wrong. But to compare this with Scooter's trangressions is something only a Republican would do. Which is why we need the democrats back, or at least the bright ones...
After dumb dumb Bush we need the bright Republicans.
Posted by: reza santorini | March 20, 2008 5:30 PM
Libby's benefactor Cheney probably will share his bundle of blood money for the last 8 years with Libby for keeping his mouth shut. Let's keep tabs on these examples of the worst of American leadership and see where they end up. If we all join together maybe we can curse them all into oblivion for causing the sorry state in which this country finds itself.
Posted by: the truth | March 20, 2008 5:41 PM
Actually, Jeff, Clinton was suspended from practice for five years as part of the deal to spare him from being indicted. His suspension has already run out. He could practice law again if he chose to do so. Apparently, he just doesn’t care to practice law any more.
Posted by: John W. | March 20, 2008 3:55 PM
I'm sure he can't afford the pay cut.
Posted by: a blinkin | March 20, 2008 5:46 PM
Apparently, he just doesn’t care to practice law any more.
___________________________
He's making more money telling the world why the republitards are so messed up. It ha smade him a millionaire! Go Bill! Only frustrated republicrites would keep bringing up a presidency almost a decade olde. Their immaturity is starting to really show these days.
Posted by: rncbs | March 20, 2008 5:47 PM
yes... i found that out after posting... I coulda sworn he was. Oh wait... wasn't he disbarred from the Arkansas bar at some point?
Anyways, Libby perjured and should be disbarred.
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 5:27 PM
Obviously (see above comment) a high IQ isn't required for membership in the Log Cabin Repubs.
Posted by: John E | March 20, 2008 5:56 PM
Actually, Jeff, Clinton was suspended from practice for five years as part of the deal to spare him from being indicted. His suspension has already run out. He could practice law again if he chose to do so. Apparently, he just doesn’t care to practice law any more.
Posted by: John W. | March 20, 2008 3:55 PM
Your right Billy boy took the deal and Libby did not. They were both wrong.
Posted by: Both parties suck | March 20, 2008 6:17 PM
Bud McFarlin wrote:
"Mark, did Mr. Clinton lose his law license for lying under oath about getting a hummer from his intern? PA voters need to know. Or do the Clintons ALWAYS get do-overs.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | March 20, 2008 2:23 PM"
Hey retard: I don't think anyone died when Bill got his BJ - - identifying a CIA operative puts their life at risk and was a seriously petty thing to do...not to mention trying to fabricate another "weapons of mass destruction" story to garner support for invading another country would end countless lives. If Libby is just getting disbarred, he is getting a slap on the wrist.
Posted by: Emma | March 20, 2008 6:21 PM
now they should set sights on dershowitz to have him disbarred and ejected from teaching for publishing that infamous book at bush's critical moment, informing that the us can torture. his book was promoted as some sort of vindication of the fascist like operations of the administration during that critical juncture. And berkley's john yoo should be included too.
Posted by: j | March 20, 2008 6:48 PM
I long for the days of intelligent political discourse. I feel dirty even posting this comment. I think you all require further political education, but it might be a futile endeavor for Bush supporters -- if you still support him now, hope (and rationality) has long since passed you by.
Posted by: David Johnson | March 20, 2008 7:31 PM
Obviously (see above comment) a high IQ isn't required for membership in the Log Cabin Repubs.
Posted by: John E | March 20, 2008 5:56 PM
Oh johnny weiner E... just because my standards are too high to ever go on a date with you doesn't mean you have to get petty and personal. you're just too revolting.
Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 20, 2008 8:06 PM
* * * * *
Posted by: David Johnson | March 20, 2008 7:31 PM
Really, David. How utterly uppity of you to suggest that those of us who post here need “further political education.” Who the hell died and left you in charge of the school?
Some of us are well educated in politics. Try to understand that some of us have a different world view than others, and/or believe that governments are supposed to operate in ways in which others do not agree. Reasonable and intelligent people can disagree with one another on such subjects without assuming a lack of education or intelligence on the part of others.
I am tempted to guess that you are a Democrat. I don’t say this because I think you are stupid or ignorant. It’s just that, in my experience, the only people who have been this snobbish, elitist and arrogant all at once have been Democrats. That was one of John Kerry’s defects, and probably his undoing.
Don’t loose sight of the fact that politics is about people. What makes everyday people tick is what counts; and not some ivory tower vision of what a more “evolved” society might bring.
Posted by: John W. | March 20, 2008 8:14 PM
Perhaps Clinton and Libby can join Spitzer in that loss.
If moral turpitude is the standard, he seems to meet it.
Posted by: Pat | March 21, 2008 12:33 AM
The biggest thing that pulled me into the Libby trial was that defense atty. Ted Wells announced he would call Cheney as a defense witness. Potential jurors were questioned according to that information. Stupidly, I thought we would hear more information about the backdrop to the Bush/Cheney Iraq invasion--even though the charges were o.o.j., perjury and making false statements. Well--Wells lied. The smokescreen stood. And now Cheney says, "so?" Even though there was a verdict, I view the Libby trial as an incomplete procedure. So little of what we needed to learn was allowed to come to light.
If truth is the river that keeps leading to the next real thing, then those standing in the way--those blocking the river--are dams--the damned. There is the origin of the word--and the definition of some people.
Posted by: Vivian | March 21, 2008 1:03 AM
It's been my experience that most Republics are bigoted simpletons unable to construct the most elementary of arguments. That does not mean that EVERY Republic is homophobic trailer trash. I'm certain that someday, I'll discover a Republic that is not worthy of an immediate kick to the crotch out of general principle. Hopefully, that day may come.
Until then, Special Ed Stevie, this one's for you.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | March 21, 2008 11:09 AM
I have been reading these posts and you guys are so ignorant. After 16 years of the same thing you still look at the election as some kind of superbowl. Stupid republicans, Evil democrats. They ARE the same. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. At the end of bushes term we are at 20 years of 2 families. 2 families that have vacationed together. The fact they did not reveal who leaked the agents info to the press SHOULD alert you to corruption. Libby was just who they had to give up to kill the story.
Posted by: Russell | March 28, 2008 4:34 PM