Former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, dropped his appeal in a perjury case that fueled debate over the Iraq war, his attorney said today.
Libby was found guilty in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into who blew the cover of a CIA officer, Valerie Plame, whose husband had criticized the Iraq war.
President George W. Bush commuted his 2-year prison sentence in July, but the former chief of staff to Mr Cheney still had to pay a $250,000 fine.
"We remain firmly convinced of Mr. Libby's innocence," attorney Ted Wells said in a statement.
"However, the realities were, that after five years of government service by Mr Libby and several years of defending against this case, the burden on Mr Libby and his young family of continuing to pursue his complete vindication are too great to ask them to bear."