‘Scooter’ Libby Drops Obstruction Appeal

Former top vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has dropped his appeal of his conviction earlier this year in the CIA leak case.

Libby, who was convicted in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into the leaked identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame, can no longer afford to continue with the appeal, according to his lawyer, reports the Washington Post.

"We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby's innocence," says, his attorney, Theodore Wells Jr., in a written statement published by the Associated Press. "However, the realities were, that after five years of government service by Mr. Libby and several years of defending against this case, the burden on Mr. Libby and his young family of continuing to pursue his complete vindication are too great to ask them to bear."

Libby's 30-month prison sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush in July. However, Libby, a former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, has paid a $250,000 fine, was given two years of supervised release and required to perform 400 hours of community service and remains a convicted felon unless the president pardons him.

Even if Libby had succeeded in the appeal, the case probably simply would have been retried, adding further millions of dollars to his defense costs, Wells noted.