US President George W. Bush spared Lewis Libby, former chief of staff to the vice president, of a 30-month prison term for obstruction of justice in a CIA leak investigation, but did not cancel his $250,000 fine or the two years of probation.

President Bush announced Monday that vice president Dick Cheney’s former aide would not go to jail, commuting Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s sentence of 30 months in a federal prison.

A statement from the White House came just hours after Libby was found guilty and his request to stay free on bail pending an appeal was rejected by a Washington federal judge.

“I respect the jury's verdict,” Bush said in the statement. “But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive. My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr Libby.”

Lewis Libby, 56, was indicted in federal court on five felony counts of obstruction of justice, making false statements and perjury in the CIA leak grand jury investigation into the “Plame affair.”

President Bush’s Grant of Executive Clemency has angered many, who accuse him of abusing presidential power.

In March 2006, Libby was convicted on two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice in a grand jury investigation and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

The case revolved around Libby’s involvement in the leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity, wife of Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson. It was believed the US administration disclosed her name intentionally, due to her husband’s criticism of the war supported by Bush.

While Libby was not charged with revealing Plame’s name to the media, he was charged with obstructing an investigation on who did. In Monday’s statement, President Bush said Libby’s reputation is “forever damaged,” adding: “The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.”