Libby's lawyers cite Martha Stewart in motion asking judge to allow Libby free pending appeal

Libby seeks same relief given to Martha Stewart
Ex-White House aide wants to be free on bond while conviction is appealed

By Joel Seidman
Producer
NBC News
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19211786/

Updated: 4:44 p.m. ET June 13, 2007
WASHINGTON - In their last filing before facing U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton Thursday, attorneys for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby are seeking the same relief awarded to Martha Stewart in their motion asking the judge to allow Libby to be released on bond pending the appeal of his conviction.

Libby's lawyers cite a list of high-profile defendants, including celebrity home and garden expert Stewart, who were allowed to remain out of jail while their cases were appealed.

<<snip>>

Stewart, who was convicted of lying to prosecutors about a 2001 stock sale, was sentenced to five months in prison. She was allowed to remain free on bond while appealing her conviction, but she decided to serve her sentence in the federal correctional facility in Alderson, W.Va.

<<snip>>

Walton reluctantly agreed to hold a hearing on Libby's motion Thursday. At Libby's sentencing last week, Walton indicated that he is not inclined to let Libby remain free pending appeals.

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald opposes delaying the sentence. He wrote Walton and said, "The government respectfully requests that this Court deny defendant's motion for release pending appeal."

All of a sudden Martha Stewart is their model? She's gotta be laughing. I know I am.

A few minor differences: Martha's prevarications to investigators involved a personal stock transaction of $50,000. Scooter's prevarications to investigators obstructed the investigation of a major national security breach. Martha offered herself up to prison before the appeal was heard. Think Scooter will do that? I'll lay $25 on, um, no.

I've got an idea. Why don't they say Scooter can stay at the women's correctional facility at which Martha served her time while he is waiting for his appeal to be heard? He might have a good time.