You hit the nail on the head!
Yes, the timing in all this is extremely suspicious. Frank should be exonerated and the doors of Leavenworth should be flung open releasing Behenna, Vela, and the rest of those men unjustly persecuted and imprisoned. No doubt the SOFA negotiations impacted and ruined the parole chances for several of the men in Leavenworth. Hopefully they can now be all granted pardons.
Vela’s case, in particular, stinks to high heaven in that it was forced to be a “show trial” held inside Iraq where (1) they could show off for the Iraqis, and (2) most importantly, it limited Vela’s chance to defend himself through access to legal, military, and social support.
Of all those railroaded, what they did to young Vela deserves an immediate pardon from the President.
Just out of curiosity, what would happen if a governor were to pardon a prisoner held on federal charges.
It would at least cause a stir, wouldn’t it?