Posted on 01/20/2009 4:43:05 AM PST by billorites
Former Massachusett House Speaker Thomas Finneran’s desperate bid for a last-minute presidential pardon has failed, after President Bush issued his final acts of executive clemency by commuting the prison sentences of two former U.S. border agents accused of shooting a Mexican drug dealer.
A White House aide said the clock ran out for Finneran, convicted of lying about his role in legislative redistricting. Finneran enlisted the help of three former Republican governors to convince the outgoing GOP president to forgive him of the federal felony.
“There are no further announcements expected regarding pardons,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
Neither Finneran nor his lawyer, Mark Robinson, could be reached.
The disgraced former speaker applied in December for a pardon and enlisted four former Bay State governors - Republicans William Weld, Paul Cellucci and Jane Swift, and Democrat Michael Dukakis - to support him.
In a letter, the governors said Finneran “has suffered daily taunts and ridicule of those who believe that every elected official is the equivalent of a common thief.”
In 2007, Finneran admitted to giving false testimony in a lawsuit over his role as speaker in a state redistricting plan allegedly diminishing minority clout. He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and slapped with a $25,000 fine.
A pardon would have forgiven him but would not have expunged his criminal record.
Finneran also had his law license suspended, which he’s appealing. A state Board of Bar Overseers panel wants his license suspended for two years, while he wants it suspended for one, which would make him eligible for reinstatement immediately.
Bush’s final pardons went to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who were convicted in the 2005 shooting of a Mexican drug dealer.
Nary a word as to being Dem or Repub...
Funny, isn't it?
Stupid writer.... it was NOT a pardon.
“has suffered daily taunts and ridicule of those who believe that every elected official is the equivalent of a common thief.”
History has demonstrated that the above is fact when it comes to Democrats.
He'd rather have us know that he is an uncommon thief, then?
That is because he is a Democrat. Remember the MSM rules of disclosure.
'When covering a story about a politician who is in disgrace or under suspicion of wrong doing, only mention the party affiliation if he is a Republican'
When the MSM leaves out the party affiliation, the story is about a Democrat as is the case here.
I am glad that the felon did not get a pardon, but hey, he can try all over again with the new President.
did he grant a commutation? (I’ve been avoiding the news)
Yes!!! And I am most thankful for that.
If he is a Dim-o-RAT (which seems likely, seeing his party affiliation was not mentioned,) then common thieves ought to be feeling insulted at the association.
Just did a Google on this mutt. There are numerous articles about him but nary a word about his party affililiation. Only after reading the articles, can figure out he’s a RAT.
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