Standing by Their Man

Scooter Libby, shown flanked by his lawyers, was little helped by the big names who wrote in his support. (By Dana Verkouteren -- Associated Press)

You knew Scooter Libby was in trouble at yesterday's sentencing hearing when his lawyer decided to read the judge a character reference -- from Paul Wolfowitz.

Wolfowitz, the soon-to-be-former World Bank president, has been in need of some character references himself since he lost his job because of a raise he arranged for his girlfriend. But in a letter dated 11 days after he announced his departure, a selfless Wolfowitz urged "maximum possible leniency" for his friend, who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Valerie Plame leak case.

"He made decisive contributions to the development of our first post-Cold War defense strategy -- a shift that made possible a nearly 40 percent reduction in spending and force levels," defense lawyer Ted Wells read from the Wolfowitz letter.

It's unclear whether a larger reduction in force levels would have carried more leniency in the sentencing, but Judge Reggie Walton was clearly unimpressed with this and the five other letters Wells chose to read aloud. "I have read all the letters," he said, interrupting Wells.

"I understand," Wells said, then resumed his reading.

Walton gave Libby a stiff sentence of 30 months in prison and hinted that he won't grant bail to the former aide to Vice President Cheney while he pursues his appeal. In doing so, the judge rejected not only the wishes of Wolfowitz but also a brief, poignant plea from Libby himself.

"I realize fully that the court must decide on punishment," the wiry defendant said. It was the first time he spoke in court during the trial, except for a "Yes, sir" response to a question from the judge early on. In a gentle voice, he continued: "It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life."

The last words came out quietly, and Libby walked back to his seat, only for the judge to order him to return to hear his sentence.

"Individuals should understand that when you transgress the law, there are consequences," Walton said. When those in high positions "step over the line," he continued, "it causes people to lose faith in our government."

Libby was pale and expressionless after the judge pronounced the 30-month sentence. Libby's wife, Harriet Grant, lowered her head. The two left the courthouse ignoring shouted questions from reporters ("Are you disappointed?") and taunts from demonstrators ("You're a criminal!").

The only public display of emotion the couple allowed themselves was at the start of the day, when Grant wept while greeting Mary Matalin, a former colleague of her husband's, with a tight hug.

The lawyers spent the first couple of hours bickering over sentencing technicalities, with regular references to "dicta" and "cross-referencing" and offense levels 12, 17, 19 and 25.