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(CN) – President Donald Trump on Friday issued a full pardon to I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney who was convicted of lying to investigators and obstruction of justice.
Libby’s convictions stemmed from the 2003 leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
President George W. Bush later commuted Libby’s 30-month prison sentence, but didn’t issue a pardon despite intense pressure from Cheney. No one was ever charged with the leak.
Trump said in a statement issued by the White House that he does not know Libby, but “for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly. Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.”
President Trump has already pardoned former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio after he was convicted of criminal contempt when he failed to stop placing undocumented immigrants in jail.
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