One of George Bush's justifications for commuting Scooter Libby's sentence was the Libby would still have to pay the $250,000 fine -- and serve his probation.  Libby did pay the fine today, but, the Federal District Court Judge has questioned whether the probation can still be applied.  Bush's commutation order [1] may have absolved Libby of that punishment: 

Former White House aide Lewis Libby has paid a $250,000 fine as part of his sentence in the CIA leak case, but the probation he was scheduled to serve under the commutation of his prison sentence may not be served after all.

According to a July 3 order issued by Judge Reggie Walton, who was the trial judge in Libby's case: "Strictly construed, the statute authorizing the imposition of supervised release indicates that such release should only occur after the defendant has already served a term of imprisonment.

"President George W. Bush commuted the 30-month prison term that Libby was scheduled to serve before he served a day of it.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said that under Walton's June 22 sentencing order, Libby was required to report to the probation office within 72 hours of the release from custody to serve his period of supervision by the probation office.