Larry Thompson, senior vice president and general counsel of PepsiCo, was one of hundreds who offered support for Scooter Libby in letters to Judge Reggie Walton. The letters, released by the U.S. District Court in Washington June 5–the same day Judge Walton sentenced Libby to 30 months in prison for his role in the Valerie Plame leak–included pleas for leniency from Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Henry Kissinger and John Bolton.

Thompson, who served as Deputy Attorney General under John Ashcroft from 2001 to 2003, wrote of meeting Libby in deputies' meetings of the National Security Council. He said he was impressed with Libby's “absolute devotion to our country, as well as his “basic honesty and integrity,” and called him a “patriot.”

Of the 198 letters the court released, 174 were in support of Libby. Rumsfeld wrote Libby was “the type of person others can hold up to their children and grandchildren as an example of a truly honorable public servant.” Kissinger wrote that while he does not share all of Libby's “strong views,” Libby always “pursued his objectives with integrity and a sense of responsibility.” Dick Cheney, Libby's former boss, did not send a letter.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Walton imposed a fine of $250,000 and sentenced Libby to two years probation following his imprisonment.

The full text of Thompson's letter to the court follows.

April 30, 2007

Dear Judge Walton:

My name is Larry D. Thompson, and I served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States from 2001 to 2003. It was as Deputy Attorney General when I first met Scooter Libby. Scooter and I sat next to each other in previously assigned seats at numerous Deputies' meetings of the National Security Council.

What impressed me most about Scooter Libby during the time we spent together was his absolute devotion to our country, as well as his basic honesty and integrity. Scooter and I had entered public service at relatively advanced stages in our respective careers. In discussing this fact, Scooter acknowledged the financial sacrifices involved, but would often smile, and, as I remember it, would say something like this is important and “we need to do it.” Like many other similarly situated public servants, I consider Scooter Libby a patriot.

I also became very fond of Scooter. Despite his very busy schedule, he was kind to his colleagues. He was very generous with his time and counsel to me, a Washington newcomer, on how to navigate the labyrinth of relationships one must deal with in Washington in order to be effective. I will always appreciate his warm smile and good counsel.

As a lawyer, while I respect the jury's decision in Scooter's case, I find it completely inconsistent with the person I know, and worked with, during some of the darkest hours in our nation's history. The Scooter Libby I know is a good man who deserves all the consideration Your Honor can give him during this difficult period of his life.

Sincerely,

Larry D. Thompson