President Trump poised to pardon Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, sources say

[Chicago1980]

Source: ABCNews

President Trump poised to pardon Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, sources say

By JONATHAN KARL, KATHERINE FAULDERS JOHN SANTUCCI Apr 12, 2018, 9:12 PM ET

[quote]President Donald Trump is poised to pardon Scooter J. Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with the president’s thinking.

The president has already signed off on the pardon, which is something he has been considering for several months, sources told ABC News.

The move would mark another controversial pardon for Trump and could raise questions as an increasing number of the president’s political allies have landed themselves in legal jeopardy. The White House has repeatedly said that no pardons are currently on the table for people caught up in the Russia investigation.[/quote]

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-poised-pardon-scooter-libby-dick-cheneys/story?id=54433032

[TeamPooka]

1. Which Republican Party stalwatrs is trump trying to win over with this move? nt

[Enoki33]

3. Think he is preparing the ground for the flood of pardons to follow.

[rwsanders]

10. someone connected to Cheney. This doesn't bode well...

someone like trump licking cheney's boots

[SCantiGOP]

24. Its a message to Manafort

“If I’ll reach back more than a decade to pardon an obviously guilty guy you know I’ll take care of you.”

[Loki Liesmith]

27. Wont work

State charges

[forgotmylogin]

2. He's experimentally warmin' up the button!

He wants to know what paperwork is involved.

And...we remember Scooter Libby...but the general populace probably doesn't. This would cause a brouhah on network and cable news and wipe him out of the headlines for a day or so.

Smoooooookscreeeeeeen.

[Mr.Bill]

4. What position will he take in the White House?

That's the question. The next Chief of staff?

[CincyDem]

5. Convicted of lying to "Mueller's FBI"...see...ya just can't trust that Mueller guy...

aside from taking the spotlight from Comey's book, this is training the base (and near base) to accept these pardons as "everyday business".

f'ck 'em all.

[Seedersandleechers]

6. What a stupid dumb fuck!

[TheSmarterDog]

7. Way to get the CIA on your side, Donnie.

[Solly Mack]

8. A Libby pardon would please Cheney, and other neocons, so what does Trump get in return?

Yes, it could be nothing more than preparing to hand out more pardons re: Mueller investigation.

But the choice of Libby...Might mean something as well.

[elmac]

14. its payback for cheney kissing tRumps ass nt

[Solly Mack]

17. That could be the all of it.

[procon]

20. Maybe a new Chief of Staff? nt

[Solly Mack]

21. I'd laugh but...well.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

25. It sets a precedent for pardoning people who have lied to the FBI and obstructed justice.

He's just taking a warm up pitch before the Main Event. When the Libby pardon is finally announced, watch him tweet about how wronged Scooter had been by the corrupt FBI and DOJ.

NO COLLUSION!

BTW, who names their kid "Scooter"?

[Solly Mack]

26. Probably scooted about on his ass like a dog with a blocked anal gland when he was a toddler.

No one thought to do something about it and that's why he grew up to be just another full of shit republican.

[LeftInTX]

28. I agree!!

I don't think his real name is Scooter.

[dchill]

29. It's Irve Lewis Libby.

[sandensea]

9. Just as well. Why convict the gofer, while the ringleaders walk free.

[groundloop]

11. "he has been considering for several months"..... I call bullshit

45* (aka Spanky) can't think about ANYTHING for more than a few minutes, and is well known to act on impulse with little thought involved. Someone suggested this move and Spanky's gut told him to run with it.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

15. That's about right I think.

He's been going to Russia for 30 years. the piss tape is the edge of the wave. This guy serves himself...always.

[dhill926]

12. hmm....not The Onion....

mercy....fool me once....

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Remind Orange Cheezus & Scooter that accepting a pardon is Admitting GUILT. . . . nt

[Marie Marie]

16. Were Bolton and Cheney buds?

They seem to come from the same club but I don't remember how chummy they were.

[ewagner]

33. good question...n/t

[yallerdawg]

18. He's not real fond of either Bush.

Given his sociopathic vindictiveness, this could be a long festering itch he just got around to scratching.

Whatever is disclosed about this, you just know it's going to be vile.

[procon]

19. Testing. Testing. Testing.

Trump wants to pardon Libby who was convicted on many on the same charges that Manafort and flynn have been charged with. This looks like a test balloon to see what kind of a blitzkrieg of criticisms Trump will face if he does. Why now? Maybe Trump will soon need a new Chief of Staff.

Doesn't Libby's case look familiar to Flynn and Manafort?

"Pursuant to the grand jury leak investigation, Libby was convicted on March 6, 2007, on four counts of perjury, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. He was acquitted of one count of making false statements. Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $250,000."


Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller of "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious and fraudulent statements" to the FBI.


Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager has been charged with conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, obstruction of justice, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading Foreign Agent Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

[dchill]

30. Also because bad FBI. VERY bad! And SAD!!

[yourmovemonkey]

22. The reason Bush II didn't pardon Libby back then

was that Libby had lied to protect Cheney. A pardon would have removed Libby's right to plead the 5th. He would have been compelled to tell the truth and implicate his bosses. Libby fell on his sword (and lost his license to practice law) to protect Cheney and Bush II.

This seems less like a favor than a threat aimed at Cheney and Bush.

[rickford66]

23. No mention of treason.

[chelsea0011]

31. Was Pompeo asked about this? It would be interesting to hear how the head

of the CIA thinks about outing an agent. Interesting in only watching him squirm to come up with an answer.

[wishstar]

32. Pardoning the only Fitzmas indictments while we are waiting for more Mueller indictments

sends clear message that lying to FBI and obstructing justice in an investigation of Repub WH is okay and pardonable with Trump

[NCjack]

34. Next week's news: Trump pardons the Rosenbergs -- regrets their executions. Putin

sends red roses to White House.