Bloomberg Steers Clear Of Libby Fray

Mayor Bloomberg is staying out of the debate about President Bush's decision to commute the jail sentence of a former White House adviser.

While the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have weighed in on Mr. Bush's decision to give I. Lewis Libby Jr. a pass on jail time, Mr. Bloomberg declined to do so.

"It's a federal thing. I don't want to comment on it," he said. "I'm not totally familiar with what the law is and I think it's up to the president." He added, "The courts have the right to do their thing and I'll leave it to the federal government."

While Mr. Bloomberg's recent decision to drop out of the Republican Party has convinced many that he is considering a run for president, he is publicly denying it.

"The mayor, as far as I know, does not have the right to pardon anybody," he said. "Assuming that's correct you can rest assured during my eight years in office I will not pardon anybody. If you get convicted of a traffic ticket you gotta pay it."