The Clintons' Terror Pardons

The Wall Street Journal ^ | February 12, 2008 | Debra Burlingame

[Puzzleman]

-- snip --

On Aug. 7, 1999, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. African embassy bombings that killed 257 people and injured 5,000, President Bill Clinton reaffirmed his commitment to the victims of terrorism, vowing that he "will not rest until justice is done." Four days later, while Congress was on summer recess, the White House quietly issued a press release announcing that the president was granting clemency to 16 imprisoned members of FALN. What began as a simple paragraph on the AP wire exploded into a major controversy...

[mtbopfuyn]

Snopes claims Clinton’s draft dodge false, but then goes on to prove he did indeed do some fancy step work to avoid it.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/felon.asp

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This is probably the least of it.

[Ann Archy]

FALN Pardons are why she will win the Puerto Rican vote!!

[Puzzleman]

"FALN Pardons are why she will win the Puerto Rican vote!!"

You're absolutely right. And the Puerto Rican vote is bigger than you might think.

Wikipedia says, " Puerto Rico's 63 delegates will all be awarded to a single candidate and not necessarily follow the majority of the popular vote. This would give Puerto Rico Democratic Party leaders the greatest single influence in the 2008 primary, with a 50% bigger disparity than the California primary produced.[48] In contrast, the party's Delegate Selection Plan states that delegates are to be allocated in a manner similar to other state caucuses.[49]"

Here is the link.

[Pagey]

A “Remembering the Internet is a Great Invention” BUMP!

[paradoxical]

bookmark

[libs_kma]

"Yes. She is a great counterbalance to the umm...”Jersey Girls”."

I saw it reported once that one of the "Jersey Girls" had a website created after she became famous. And that it was odd that her website had more information about her dog than it did about her husband. Who was the one who made her famous by dying on 9/11

[rlmorel]

Sad. Simply a sad thing. I lost all semblance of sympathy for them when they decided to become a political statement.

[RDTF]

people need to be reminded!

[acoulterfan]

It is very well detailed in Barbara Olson’s last book:

“THE FINAL DAYS - The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House”

Must reading!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Reminding people bump.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Blogosphere (CQ ):

February 12, 2008
A Walk Down Terrorist Memory Lane

*************************EXCERPT***********************

Debra Burlingame invites Wall Street Journal readers to take a stroll down Memory Lane, to a time when murderous terrorists gained presidential pardons instead of relentless pursuit. This didn't happen a long, long time ago in an administration far, far away, but actually less than ten years ago. In 1999, with Hillary Clinton pursuing a seat in the Senate, Bill Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 Puerto Rican separatists whose organization had committed a whopping 146 bombings and more armed robberies:

On Aug. 7, 1999, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. African embassy bombings that killed 257 people and injured 5,000, President Bill Clinton reaffirmed his commitment to the victims of terrorism, vowing that he "will not rest until justice is done." Four days later, while Congress was on summer recess, the White House quietly issued a press release announcing that the president was granting clemency to 16 imprisoned members of FALN. What began as a simple paragraph on the AP wire exploded into a major controversy.

***************************snip************************

Who did want these prisoners released? Three members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, all from New York, had demanded action to release the FALN terrorists. Hillary needed their support in her upcoming Senate bid, and that of other Hispanic leaders. At the time, Hillary expected to run against Rudy Giuliani, who would have been a formidable candidate even before 9/11, and she needed every endorsement she could find.

Bill Clinton gave it to her, but then discovered a problem: the prisoners had never actually asked for clemency. They had refused to renounce violence or express remorse for their actions In fact, they insisted that the US had no jurisdiction over them at all, and that clemency was unwanted. Hillary then flip-flopped, opposing her husband's release of the prisoners -- which records later showed his administration pursued, and not the criminals.

Congress tried to get to the bottom of the issue, but the Clinton administration stonewalled it through claims of executive privilege.

[Cindy]

Thread Bump.
Thank you Ernest.

[FARS]

“I will never understand how these two scum have gotten away with so much”
...
.
.

the same way that Islamists are being allowed to infiltrate and take over and corrupt our culture, laws and beliefs.

[KC_Conspirator]

I have never forgetten that instead of going after terrorists that attacked Americans throughout the 90’s leading up to the 911 attacks, the Klintons pardoned terrorists. Expect more of this by democrats should they get in the WH.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

“Initial reports stated that Mrs. Clinton supported the clemencies, but when public reaction went negative she changed course, issuing a short statement three weeks after the clemencies were announced. The prisoners’ delay in refusing to renounce violence ‘speaks volumes,’ she said. The Clintons were caught in an awkward predicament of their own making. The president had ignored federal guidelines for commutation of sentences, including the most fundamental: The prisoners hadn’t actually asked for clemency.”

also, IrishMike’s post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968967/posts?page=13#13

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[ntnychik]

Outstanding article. Well worth going to the site and reading in full.

[devolve]

.

Bump -

[potlatch]

Thanks nit.