Many Newspapers Oppose Pardon

The Denver Post writes: "Americans are increasingly concerned about the real toll of death and destruction in Iraq, so the Libby case may seem a sideshow to many. But Judge Walton did the right thing, and we hope the president does as well."

The Milwaukee Journal and Sentinel writes: "Yes, the truth matters. For that and other reasons, the president should resist any temptation to pardon Libby."

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes: "The public doesn't have a good answer as to why this highly intelligent, loyal, self-effacing, diligent man would subvert the truth. But the evidence showed that he did. And a pardon would sanction expediency, lawlessness and disrespect for the judicial process."

The Albany Times-Union writes: "Mr. Libby's apologists are trying to make him out to be a victim of overzealous prosecution.

"Their desperate arguments go something like this: How could Mr. Libby really have obstructed justice, as Judge Walton said he almost certainly did, when no one was ever even indicted for the crime of outing Ms. Plame?

"The reality, though, is that the crimes for which Mr. Libby was convicted -- false statements, perjury and, yes, obstruction of justice -- impeded special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation of the leak that exposed Ms. Plame. . . .

"The leniency Mr. Libby's loyalists seek for him would undermine confidence in the judicial system. Respect for the law must come before empathy for the man and his painful fall from grace. Mr. Libby has to serve his time."

The Day of New London, Conn, writes: "If President Bush were to pardon him now, it would send a chilling message to Americans that powerful people are above the law. They're not. They must follow the rules just like other people are expected to.

"It would also send a message to others in this and future administrations that if they lie to protect higher ups, they can bank on the redemption of a presidential pardon. . . .

"If [Bush] bows to the pressure of Mr. Libby's friends, particularly Vice President Cheney, and overrides the sentence via a pardon, it will be a travesty and further erode faith in the Bush White House.

"Mr. President, please don't let us down again."

The New York Times came out against a pardon yesterday.