Whoo hoooo.....The BEST case scenario 5 YEARS IN PRISON!!

[Justice Is Comin]

No good news here for those bastards.


http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=55142


<clip>

The best case scenario for those involved would be a conviction of only a single count of perjury or obstruction of justice, either of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Under the Guidelines, that would probably result in the maximum sentence because both charges have a base offense level of 14, and those convicted will most probably receive enhancements of 3 levels for substantial interference with the administration of justice, 6 levels for victimizing a government employee and family member, 2 levels for abuse of the public trust, and 4 levels for being a leader. These total 29 levels, which equals 87-108 months in federal prison under the Guidelines, far above the five-year statutory maximum, so the final sentence will be five years.

However, federal prosecutors rarely issue one-count indictments, but rather charge every possible violation. In the instant case, it is highly likely that Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald will throw the book at them, by charging conspiracy and violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of l982 ("IIPA") (50 U.S.C., section 421), each carrying a maximum sentence of ten years, conspiracy and violation of the Espionage Act (18 U.S.C. 793), each carrying ten years, and multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice, each carrying five years. Moreover, because there was an agreement among many people in this case, there will most probably also be an overarching conspiracy charge to violate multiple statutes. It is significant that the IIPA mandates that any sentence under the Act be imposed "consecutively" to any other sentence in the indictment. Id. at section 421(d).

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines reflect the seriousness of a conviction under the IIPA by setting a base offense level of 30 for disclosure "by a person with, or who had access to, classified information identifying a covert agent." In the case of White House officials, the same enhancements mentioned above will be added to that base level, for a total of 42 levels, which requires a LIFE sentence. Of course, since the IIPA only allows for a maximum sentence of ten years, that life sentence could be imposed only by a conviction on multiple counts, such as conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justice, running consecutively to the IIPA sentence.

[Seansky]

1. tooooo good of a best case scenario...It should be life per each

dead US and Iraqui person that resulted from the war.

[Spinzonner]

2. Any such sentences will be truncated or eliminated by pardons

[reality based]

5. Yep!

I suspect the pardons will be issued before any public testimony takes place. However, the indictments will then stand with the force of convictions. There are undoubtedly powerful moves being tried right now to avoid indictments. It would be enough to send one to the liquor cabinet, if one had not been born again and quit drinking.

[eShirl]

7. Wilson mentioned they plan to file a civil suit

can pardons also apply to civil suits?

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Not going to happen

Soon Bush isn't going to be able to issue a pardon for his dog, no less anyone in his misadministration.

[carnie_sf]

12. 100% correct

Just look at all the pardons handed down aft Reagan/BushI, and how many of those criminals are involved in the BushII "administration". I mean why aren't elliot abrams and john negroponte in jail?

[MADem]

3. The best case scenario for the convicted is actually

a protracted appeal process, during which they remain free on bond, followed by a Presidential pardon.

If the fish caught in the web are big enough, they will not do a single second behind bars. Only the foot soldiers will take the hit.

[The Night Owl]

4. The most we can hope for are indictments...

If the past 5 years haven't proved that Dim Son is shameless enough to pardon his cohorts, nothing will.

[Justice Is Comin]

8. He wouldn't

dare drag out the P word with the implication of seriousness of these charges. It would be the biggest revolt since the Rodney King verdicts.

It will also provide the basis for impeachment talks if anyone has remotely testified that the Plame outing was intentional and the case to invade Iraq was manufactured.

Nope, no P word.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. That would be best for THEM.

Best for the nation would be significantly more.

[GliderGuider]

9. * can't give them Freedom Medals, so he'll just give them freedom

A round of pardons on the House, barkeep!

[NoBushSpokenHere]

10. Ty for posting