Jailed Media Baron Conrad Black Hoping For Bush Pardon

Conrad Black is pinning his hopes on clemency from U.S. President George W. Bush as a last-ditch effort to get out of jail early, and he wants his former publishing company to foot the legal bill.

Lawyers for the deposed press baron, who is serving a 61/2-year prison sentence in Florida for fraud and obstruction of justice, recently submitted legal bills to Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., some of which referred to work done in pursuit of a clemency plea, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The sources said the company is balking at shouldering the payments, even though it has been forced by the courts to pay $117-million (U.S.) on the defence of Lord Black and other former company officials.

"We try to draw the line at outrageous things, and this is sort of one of them," said one person close to the company, once a sprawling Chicago-based newspaper empire known as Hollinger International Inc.

Read the entire article here.

Comments

[sposton]

It all depends on how much money can he contribute to Bush's library. Does anyone expect for Bush to behave more honorably than Bill Clinton? Clinton didn't exactly set a good standard to follow.

[LiberalBuzz]

And your proof that Bill sold pardons is....................what?

Oh yes, Rush and Hannity told you. The Department of Justice investigated this under Bush and found no correlation but I guess that doesn't stop the lie mongers.

[sposton]

I will forgive your enthusiastic youthfulness. Google Marc Rich and Denise Rich and please post here your findings along with a small apology. Please do not elevate Rush and Hannity to the higher status than they deserve. ;-)

Next time you needlessly attack people perhaps you should read a few more of their comments.

[pfc1369]

Bush's library. Wow!

Talk about absurdity.

[kloche]

I was just thinking the other day that it is possible the Bush maybe the only president who gets a Library but has never been inside a Library.

Best to give the Library to Laura Bush. She deserves it more

[Roy49]

Don't give him sh*t! Bush and Cheney need to have there criminal a_ _es in jail for treason and murder! If I were Bush, I would just ignore all pardons and just hide out and leave that sad, sad legacy behind and don't give anyone anything!! He might save face that way...

[leeman79]

Lord Black? If this guy's a lord, then I'm the duke of earl.

[ChristiB]

Black has a superiority complex, he thinks he is above the law, and is entitled to special treatment. He is an egotistical bas*ard. Why is that wealthy people such as Black think they can get away with crimes? He and his wife owned several mansions, repleat with gold finishes and excess, and they were once famously quoted as saying something like 'we don't feel guilty for not sharing or giving to charity or poor people, why should we?'. There is nothing wrong with being rich, or illegal about rubbing all our noses in it, but there is something wrong with pardoning a criminal just because they have connections and are rich.

[ciotog17]

President Bush should pointedly refuse to pardon Conrad Black. He should state that, were in it his power to do so, he would double the lord's sentence, not abrogate it. The statement should end with the motto of the Commonwealth of Virginia, "Sic semper tyrannis."

[viewfromuphere]

Mr. Bush, this Canadian is respectfully requesting you leave Mr Black's sorry backside exactly where it is....no Canadian outside of his wife cares if this guy sees the outside.

[395spoons]

Black has renounced to his Canadian citizenship to become LORD Black. He remains a British citizen.

[Durango]

WTH bush may as well.

he is all for the down trodden wealthy.

And it can't possibly hurt his popularity.

And besides, it will be forgotten in the midst of the truly atrocious pardons he will be handing out.

[lungfish]

Mr. Bush has zero respect for the rule of law or justice or accountability... he will bail out criminals and play the influence game..... what a pathetic and small man.

[lj9283]

"$117-million (U.S.) on the defense of Lord Black and other former company officials." How do the lawyers stay out of jail?

(Yeah, Mom, I know......I should have been a lawyer...)

[HARLEYSRULE]

He could Pardon Marc Rich, No that was already done. He could pardon FALN terrorists, No that already got heir get out of jail free card.

[LiberalBuzz]

Oh blah blah blah. Old News. Rich is STILL not pardoned for all the other things he is either wanted for or has been indicted for. BFD.

The FALN who were released had NEVER killed anyone and had already served almost 20 years each. They were NOT pardoned by the way, they just had the sentences commuted.

Once again. BFD.

The pres can do what he wants

What's it to you. You don't even understand what happened and are a typical tro ll. Just make sh&t up.

[Jezdukowski]

Yeah, what he said! Oh, and Harleys SUCK!

[langerlongshot]

if harley davidson made airplanes would you fly in one?

[CeeCee]

No no no no no!
Conrad Black does not deserve a pardon.

[bubbles3660]

Get in line, Tubby.

[BSERIUS]

He didn't pardon Libby , hopefully he won't pardon this guy

[ratail]

Correction - Bush has not YET pardoned Libby. I see that train a-coming in January, my friend.

[LiberalBuzz]

I wouldn't care if he pardoned Libby so long as Libby had served some time in a Federal Prison. And timewise, Libby would be getting out about now. So it is STILL the pres's biz when it comes to pardons and commutations.

[Felicty]

And for the right price, he will buy that pardon.

[xrepublican]

Better yet, have Bush join him.

We are a nation of law - or not.

[arunachala]

ya screw this game, he's a crook and he deserve to do his time, but who knows money talks and maybe he'll buy a few favor from W.