The Daily Background

How many convicted felons can rightfully claim to be endorsed by the sitting Vice President of the United States– and use that endorsement to ask for money? At least one.

Scooter Libby’s legal defense fund sent out an email today asking for thousands of dollars worth of donations using Vice President Dick Cheney’s endorsement “Scooter Libby is one of the most capable and talented individuals I have ever known.” Libby was convicted of four felony counts including obstruction of justice, perjury and lying to federal investigators on March 6th.

The Vice President has expressed his disappointment in the verdict but has not personally donated to his defense fund.

Some have called the legal defense fund, which has reportedly hauled in more than three million dollars from conservatives, a ‘hush fund’ meant to establish a nest egg for when the former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff to retire on after he gets out of prison, assuming he takes a fall for the Vice President. Cheney has not personally donated to the fund. The fund is not tax deductible, and thus there are no limits on the size of contributions which it can receive. The website asks for up to $10,000 or more on Libby’s behalf.

The defense fund, which lists boasts former Bush Administration officials and other prominent Republicans, was set up by GOP operative Barbara Comstock in December of 2005, about a month and a half after Libby was indicted.

Filed under: Plame Leak, Z-TDB Blog