Bush Flooded With Pardon Requests: Mike Milken, Marion Jones, "American Taliban"

newsweek.com:

UPDATES:

Bush Pardons 14, Commutes 2 Prison Sentences

The Justice department is getting flooded with a new wave of requests for pardons and commutations from convicted felons hoping for clemency from President Bush before he leaves office. A number of politically connected Washington lawyers have been retained to push the cases, but there are few signs that Bush will be open to anything resembling the last minute "pardon party" that marked President Clinton's final days in office.

Bush has taken a stingy stand on pardons, granting fewer of them--just 157, and none of them high profile--than any president in modern history. He has directed all hopefuls to submit applications to the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney, which evaluates all requests using strict, longstanding guidelines, including a requirement that applicants have finished serving their sentences and expressed remorse. The office received a record 555 pardon requests during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 and an additional 103 in the past month.

Read the whole story: newsweek.com

Comments

[research]

The ALCU sent me this great comment:"

Pardon Whom?
The ACLU sent out an Email on December 4th joining a chorus of voices in declaring that Bush has the power to pardon crimes he authorized but shouldn't use it. This is a step forward for many organizations and publications that have never supported impeachment or prosecution. But it is potentially less than helpful. The impeachment power was created precisely in case a president ever pardoned someone for a crime he was involved in. Both James Madison and George Mason made this argument. Bush has already committed this abuse by commuting Scooter Libby's sentence and is likely to pardon him and others.

To suppose that the pardon power permits

the same action that the impeachment power was created to punish

is absurd,

and to grant the president that power while asking him to please not use it is misguided. Congress should be impeaching, passing bills, proposing amendments, and joining with courts and the president elect in making clear that such pardons will not be honored. One way to advance the debate is to recruit cosponsors for a resolution by Congressman Jerrold Nadler. Some Congress members have already signed on after 46,000 emails were sent. Please ask your representative. "

[research]

Ops, that was actually from:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org

[gap08]

Well, love him or hate him, the time is coming near to say goodbye to George W. Bush. I would like to extend an invitation to anyone who has something to say to this President to post an open letter to GW at http://goodbye.us . This is a project to essentially create a time capsule of feelings and thoughts about the outgoing administration. So please, check it out and share!

[patmoore]

"Bush has taken a stingy stand on pardons, granting fewer of them"

Unless you are Scooter Libby and outing CIA agents....­. forget it!

Bush is going to administer a blanket pardon to anyone who entered the white house between Jan 20, 2001 and Jan 20, 2009.

[GhostofBillHicks]

Add Ted Stevens to that list.

[PhantomAviator]

..

Don't believe it. I expect several "pre-emptive" pardons.

I sure you all can fill in yer own list.

.

[VitoCorleone]

We are getting ready to submit some names.

V.C.

[grailknight]

Fewer pardons as POTUS than death warrants signed as Governor of Texas. Very compassionate, indeed!

[SinisterK9]

And your point is?

[grailknight]

Are you obtuse?

[LeonBNJ]

Some of the pardon requests would occure no matter who is an outgoing President.
I am concerned about the possible abuses of the Pardon powers by GWB in his last days in office, especially those in his administration including others mentioned by other posters. Still, the stink from Clinton's last minute pardons looms large over him to not do the same, he came from Texas where the pardon powers of that state as to the Governor is very limited and in special boards and maybe he just feels it would be admiting guilt as to his part in the assults on the Constitution. Pardoning any business leaders would be bad too in the current financial crises. In the end, think he will grant few if any significant pardons.

[Chuckwheat]

He's saving them for himself.

[SinisterK9]

Hopefully he only pardons 1 or 2 who may be deemed worthy. I really hope he doesn't pull a Clinton and pardon 140+, and commute 37 in a single day.

[Cinnamonape]

Oh...and one more thing. Obama could work to revoke the Presidential Directive that prevents US citizens from facing international war tribunals at the Hague. Thus, even if Bush pardons any or all of his Administration, they could still be eligible for prosecution abroad. Just not for Federal laws.

In addition, Obama could make records available which would allow for civil suit prosecution of victims, or in State courts.

[Cinnamonape]

I seriously hope that if Bush pardons members of his own administration or others involved in criminal and Unconstitutional acts that he inspired, that the Congress establish a special board to consider "post-incumbency impeachment".

Impeachment can be applied not only to removing an individual from office...b­ut also from EVER HOLDING OFFICE AGAIN! It prevents a person convcicted of an impeachable offense from "holding any office of trust, profit or honor under the United States". That means the person could be barred from lobbying (a position of trust), working for a company receiving Federal grants or contracts, from receiving any sort of Federal license (e.g. a radio announcers license), serving henceforth in any Federal commission or agency,

Most importantly they would no longer hold any residual powers...f­or example the right to prevent the release of Presidential papers. They couldn't use the titles or regalia of office (Presidential seal), could be required to affix the terms "impeached and convicted" to that title. No franking (mail) privilege, no office space, and no pension or health care. No Presidential library since there would be no right to Federal records or "gifts".

[wordvarc]

Jubilee!

How about a Jubilee year?

.

[Earl]

I think he's too dumb to know who to pardon and who not to pardon.

[beartrack]

What he "should" do and what he will probably do are not likely the same. He "should" pardon the two Border Patrol Agents. Still don't know what the hell they, the Bush AG office, were trying to do with this miscarriage of justice. I also like like the post for Marion Jones. She showed class in standing up for what she did. ---Like I said, that's he should do. Would like to think he would like to go out with at least a little honor.

[moongal6]

I completely agree with you in the Marion Jones case. She has already asked for a pardon from Mr. Bush, it was denied. This request from her lawyer was the same week that Roger Clemons was testifying (lying) about his use of steroids. She told the truth and was still fully prosecuted.
Mr. Bush said that if Roger Clemons was indicted and found guilty of steroid use, he would pardon HIM immediately.
What a pile.