ABC broke the news this evening that the President-Who-Would-Be-King has signed off on a Pardon for Scooter Libby. abcnews.go.com/…
The story is brief, but for those who have forgotten the basics or the young folks on here the linked story provides a short but informative summary:
“Libby was convicted in 2007 of lying to the FBI and obstruction of justice in the investigation into the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame, a former covert CIA operative. Then-President George Bush commuted Libby's 30-month sentence, sparing him prison time, but didn't pardon him.”
As luck would have it MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace (who served as Communications Director for Bush 45) who actually knew the main players (Bush, Cheney & Libby) was on Rachel Maddow’s show when the news reached Maddow. Wallace had been castigating the GOP for the RNC’s coordinated attack on James Comey and the FBI and stuck around to talk about the impending Libby Pardon. She noted that Cheney was livid from the time Libby was charged for lying to the FBI. More on that in a bit. She went on to note Cheney remained that way because Bush wouldn’t Pardon Libby — Bush did Libby a huge favor by Commuting his sentence and therefore keeping him out of prison but that both then and since Bush’s position was that however pissed Cheney has been someone lying to the FBI didn’t merit a full Pardon.
More importantly, Wallace went on to suggest something I think is hugely important. When taken in context with all the disgraceful (her expressed belief) attacks on Comey and the FBI this Pardon for Libby is setting the stage for a lot more Pardons. She and Maddow discussed (briefly) the fact that some of the convictions Mueller has already obtained and many possible/impending ones are for the very crime Libby is being Pardoned for — lying to the FBI.
From where I sit this Pardon of Scooter Libby for a crime (lying to the FBI) that most of the country has become familiar with is a trial balloon. Trump and his minions in the White House & his legal team want to see how much uproar a Libby Pardon will generate. If, as I’m afraid would be the case the GOP in general but especially in Congress does nothing more than express “concerns”, or “disappointment” or “being troubled” then we can expect more Pardons. If OTOH genuine outrage including from more than a few in the GOP is generated and ongoing, and if there’s pushback of any kind in Congress (i.e. the embarrassment of voting down nominees like Pompeo or Jackson which are already in trouble) it might cause Trump to hold off.
Also, if as Maddow and some of her guests suggested Trump’s deciding not to sit for an interview with Mueller means that instead of next month (at the earliest) or by July Mueller issues a report on the Obstruction of Justice case Mueller can wrap things up and issue a report within weeks instead of months. Apparently, he (Mueller) has reached conclusions on at least four key matters on the Obstruction issue, and I agree with Maddow that those conclusions and a report detailing them (which will surely become public) won’t be good for Trump.
So as I see it, we need to rally everyone we can to call and write our Congress Critters and for those active on (other) social media raise hell about the Libby Pardon. Shoot that trial balloon to smithereens and set the remnants on fire when it falls to the ground — and keep pouring gasoline on the fire. We have to make damned sure that NO ONE beyond Trump’s hard core base accepts Trump Pardoning Libby. We have to raise enough hell that even a significant number of mostly docile GOP Congress Critters publicly call Trump out and do so forcefully.
And back it up with passing legislation to protect the Mueller investigation.