‘Premature’ to Talk of Libby Pardon, Says Giuliani

ABC News’ Teddy Davis and Paul Fidalgo Report: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Monday in Washington, D.C. that it is "premature" to discuss a pardon for Scooter Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney who was convicted last week of lying to a grand jury and to F.B.I. agents investigating the leak of the identity of a C.I.A. operative.

"This is a case that’s still on appeal," said Giuliani, "so it would seem to me that it’s premature to have a big discussion about a pardon."

Invoking his own experience working on pardons in the U.S. Department of Justice, Giuliani said that before a pardon is usually granted "you have to finish your sentence for a certain period of time." Giuliani said the pardon power has to be exercised "very judiciously and very carefully" adding that "you certainly shouldn’t speculate about it while a criminal case is still ongoing."

In a thinly veiled dig at the controversial pardons that former President Clinton issued just before leaving office, Giuliani said that although the Justice Department reviews pardons, it is presidents who make the ultimate decision.

"The president — presidents — make their own decisions about pardons, as we’ve learned, you know, recent presidents, right?" said Giuliani in the broken syntax familiar to reporters who have covered him.