Yet last year the Bush Administration filed a "friend-of-the-court brief" with the Supreme Court, in an attempt to uphold a lower court"s ruling that a 33-month prison sentence for Victor Rita, who was convicted of the same exact charges, perjury and obstruction of justice, was "reasonable."
He fought for this country. He risked his life. WTF did libby do? Sat behind a desk. No consideration for this marines time he spent in our forces. Total F!@#$% B.S
Phil,
There's rumours on some alternate "news" sites that Scooter has some powerful connections with intelligence services.
It's hard to be sure what's true these days. It seems that with many stories somebody throws around allegations of involvement of (pick any or all the 3-letter gov't agencies you know) andthere you haveit.
Regardless, the fact that he has powerful friends is obvious. The grossly apparent double standard doesbegthe question "What the heck?"
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Days Full Of Clays...
NWTF, DU, SCI
What were the facts of the Rita case? Nothing was listed. I know the facts of Libby's so if there's going to be a comparison please post them.
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John Adams The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Supreme Court Justices: (back row from left) Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito, (front row from left) Anthony Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice John Roberts, Antonin Scalia and David Souter.
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WASHINGTON (AP) " The Supreme Court made it harder Thursday for most defendants to challenge their federal prison sentences.
[/align]Appeals courts that review prison terms imposed by trial judges may deem them reasonable if they fall within federal sentencing guidelines adopted in the mid-1980s, the high court said.
The justices upheld a 33-month sentence given to Victor Rita for perjury and making false statements. Rita is a 25-year military veteran and former civilian federal employee.
The prison term falls within the guidelines range and was upheld by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, posing the question of whether sentences within the guidelines ordinarily will be considered reasonable.
The vast majority of federal prison sentences fall within the guidelines.
This is what I have found on it, you suppose Bush will let him off the hook? I do not think so but, we will wait and see!!!
Sorry, what are the facts involving his case? Like I said everyone knows scooter's.
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John Adams The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
In google searching Victor Rita, I found 1 entry that stated he had previously been convicted of the same offense and given probation only. If true, this would be his 2nd offense and obviously merit a stiffer sentence. As for Rita's case, I found the below statement from the below listed link.
In looking at both cases, both men seem to have been sentenced within sentencing guidelines by their respective judges. The "system" acted similarly in sentencing both men for pretty similar crimes. One could argue that Rita's case involved perjury in a case where a crime was determined to have been committed and Libby's did not (it's debatable and questionable if Plame was really a covert operative or not) but that really isn't part of the charge of perjury. Both men received almost identical sentences but only 1 man worked for the VP and had his sentence commuted by the President. I think anybody with any level of intelligence and honesty can determine that Libby obviously benefitted from Whitehouse connections.
But the court did not buy that argument. In an 8-1 decision, it found that a sentence with guidenlines is "presumptively reasonable." The decision by the Supreme Court will make it harder to get similar sentences overturned if they are within sentencing guidelines. The Court had previously reuled that sentencing guidelines were advisory and not mandatory. This decision will eliminate some of the confusion on the issue and is likely to reduce the success of similar appeals in the future.
And what did he do in order to receive a prison sentence?
He made two false statements to a federal grand jury. The jury was investigating a gun company. Prosecutors believed that buyers of a kit, called a "PPSH 41 machinegun "parts kit,' " could assemble a machinegun from the kit, and that the company had not secured the necessary permits to import machine guns.
Rita had purchased one of the kits and when he was contacted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, he agreed to let the agent inspect the kit. But, before, meeting with the agent, he sent back the kit and, instead, substituted a kit that did not amount to a machine gun. The government contended that he lied to the grand jury about his actions and he was convicted for making false statements and committing perjury.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
The biggest problem with the Libby case is that it is wholly political. There is no compelling legal reason that he should have been sent to prison pending appeal instead of being free on bail. That was a purely political move to force the President's hand in this, to try to hurt the Bush Adm.
Plame was not covert, & the prosecutor knew who "leaked" Plame's name to Novak well before the grand jury was convened to find out who "leaked" Plame's name. Alan Dershowitz, no right winger, had a great piece on Huffingtonpost detailing the entirely political nature of this entire matter.
The biggest problem with the Libby case is that it is wholly political. There is no compelling legal reason that he should have been sent to prison pending appeal instead of being free on bail. That was a purely political move to force the President's hand in this, to try to hurt the Bush Adm.
Plame was not covert, & the prosecutor knew who "leaked" Plame's name to Novak well before the grand jury was convened to find out who "leaked" Plame's name. Alan Dershowitz, no right winger, had a great piece on Huffingtonpost detailing the entirely political nature of this entire matter.
Inmy world might I say. If you are convicted in a court of law they do not leave you out of jail till your appeal.
This is total B.S
