Cheney on Libby pardon: Trump has ‘righted’ a ‘wrongful conviction’

Former Vice President Dick Cheney praised President Trump’s decision on Friday to pardon his former top aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby, saying that Trump had “righted” a “wrongful conviction.”

“Scooter Libby is one of the most capable, principled and honorable men I have ever known,” Cheney said in a statement. “He is innocent, and he and his family have suffered for years because of his wrongful conviction.

“I am grateful today that President Trump righted this wrong by issuing a full pardon to Scooter, and I am thrilled for Scooter and his family.”

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Trump pardoned Cheney’s former chief of staff, who was convicted in 2007 on obstruction of justice and perjury charges related to the investigation into the leak of former CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity. 

Libby was originally sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was ultimately spared jail time after former President George W. Bush commuted his sentence.

The fact that Bush never offered Libby a full pardon created friction between the former president and his vice president. 

Trump acknowledged in a statement on Friday that he has never met Libby, but said he has long heard that the former Cheney aide “has been treated unfairly.”

“Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life,” Trump said.

Trump’s decision was also criticized by a number of Libby’s detractors, including Plame.