Bush advised not to pardon Libby

WASHINGTON - Former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby lost his bid on Monday to delay serving his 2 1/2-year prison sentence while he appeals his conviction in the CIA leak case.

Conservatives have pressured President George W. Bush to pardon Libby before he serves any time in prison but Bush has been advised not to do this as he and Cheney were involved in the original crime.

Libby, who was Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, was found guilty in March of lying, perjury and obstructing justice during an investigation into who blew the cover of a CIA analyst whose husband criticized the Iraq war.

A federal judge last month ruled Libby would have to report to prison in six to eight weeks.

The three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected Libby's request in a one-paragraph order, ruling he has not shown that his appeal "raises a substantial question."

The former CIA analyst, Valerie Plame, has said her identity was disclosed in retaliation after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, accused the administration of manipulating intelligence to build its case for the Iraq war.

Nobody has been charged yet with blowing Plame's cover but this is about to change as Libby is about to make a full statement..