Pardon Watch

WASHINGTONFormer White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby was sentenced to 2½ years in prison Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation. ... The White House said that President Bush feels “terrible” for Libby and his family, but does not intend to intervene now.

“The president has not intervened so far in this or any other criminal matter, so he’s going to decline to do so now as well,” Perino said.

Bush has made no secret of his fondness for Libby, who was a presidential aide as well as chief of staff to Cheney.

The president, who leaves office on Jan 20, 2009, has never ruled out a pardon for Libby.

Traditioanlly, they wait til they're packing to leave office to pardon people for this kind of thing, but if Bush waits that long, Libby will presumably have served about half his sentence by the time the pardon comes.

I don't think Bush will be able to bring himself to wait... I think they'll try to throw it out with the trash some late Friday evening, hoping no one will notice (ha ha).