The highest ranking Bush administration official convicted of a crime is foregoing his appeal of that conviction:

Former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby this morning gave up the appeal of his perjury and obstruction convictions in connection with the CIA leak case, his attorney said.

Libby, whose 30-month prison sentence was commuted by President Bush just before he was to begin serving it, continues to maintain his innocence, attorney Theodore V. Wells Jr. said in a statement. But, Wells said, "the burden on Mr. Libby and his young family of continuing to pursue his complete vindication are too great to ask them to bear."

As a result, Wells said, Libby filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Washington today to dismiss the appeal.

A federal jury convicted Libby in March of four felonies for lying to FBI agents and the grand jury that investigated the leak of the identity of then-covert CIA operative Valerie Plame. Libby was found guilty of two perjury counts and one count each of obstructing justice and making false statements -- about when and how he learned Plame's identity, and what he told journalists about her.

Libby has already paid the $250,000 fine levied upon him, Wells said. He will remain on supervised release for a total of two years and must complete 400 hours of community service as part of his criminal sentence.

Bush has never ruled out a full pardon of Libby, who was the only person charged in connection with the leak case. Unless such a pardon is issued, Libby will remain a convicted felon.