Libby to drop appeal in CIA leak case

WASHINGTON (AP) — An attorney for former White House aide Lewis Libby says his client is dropping his appeal in the CIA leak case.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction for lying about his conversations with reporters about outed CIA operative Valerie
Plame.

Libby’s attorney says the decision to drop the appeal was made in part because of the burden the case put on Libby and his family.

President Bush commuted Libby’s 30-month jail sentence in July. Libby did pay a $250,000 fine and must serve two years’ probation. However, the president could issue a full pardon as his
administration winds down.

Libby’s attorney says he has not discussed a possible pardon with the president and does not know what Bush will do.