Posted on 12/11/2007 3:18:52 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON, (AP) -- President Bush granted pardons Tuesday to carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and an election-laws violator but not to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his vice president's former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative.
In all, Bush pardoned 29 convicts and reduced the prison sentence of one more in the end-of-the-year presidential tradition.
Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said Bush has granted 142 pardons and commuted five sentences since taking office in 2001 — lagging far behind the pace set by most modern presidents.
The list was issued with little fanfare Tuesday afternoon by the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Justice Department. Bush was not expected to issue any more pardons this year.
In July, Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2 year sentence, sparing Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff from serving any prison time after being convicted of perjury and obstructing justice. Libby, who recently dropped appeals to have his convictions overturned, has paid a $250,000 fine and remains on two years probation.
Libby was the only person to face criminal charges in the case of the 2003 leak of then-CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Plame, who has since left the CIA, contends the White House was trying to discredit her husband, a critic of Bush's Iraq policy.
A pardon amounts to federal forgiveness for one's crime, while a commutation cuts short an existing prison term.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Obviously Libby’s pardon will come after the 2008 election.
The AP is still spinning like there was a leak.
Certainly if Libby is to get a pardon, it would be only smart to make it after the election.
That’s MY hope.
Agreed
Libby's pardon will come after the 2008 election only if the Court of Appeals has yet to rule or has ruled against Libby with respect to the appeal.
News flash: Libby withdrew his appeal.
What is Bush afraid his approval ratings will drop? I wish Bush would stop worrying about what the media will say.
So can we assume Ramos and Compeon aren't going home for Christmas?
Maybe they should have been caught dealing the drugs, instead of going after the drug dealer..tsk, tsk.
I'm so disappointed in Bush.
sw
Ramos and Compean still in prison. What happened to President Bush’s compassion?
Where have I been...
Speaking of pardons... there’s a couple U.S. Border Patrol agents that need/must have pardons.
“President Bush granted pardons Tuesday to carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and an election-laws violator but not to...”
Compean, Ramos, the Haditha Marines and/or the Pendleton Eight Marines ...
Merry Christmas, President Jorge Boosh
Compassion? It's misplaced.
sw
I'm with you, I need to tune out for a long while...
..the news keeps getting worse.
This is really pissing me off too.
With Bush the illegals have more rights than Americans. Guess what? If you keep voting in this corrupt “Two-Party Cartel” run by corrupt evil elites then expect this from the next goon that you elect.
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