Bush Pardons 19 More After Questioning

Think Progress reported Tuesday that a White House spokesman was disputing the notion that President George Bush would not issue a "batch of pardons" at the last minute.

In today's White House press briefing, a reporter noted to spokesman Tony Fratto that the "administration has indicated that the president is unlikely, at the last minute, to issue a batch of pardons." Fratto, however, quickly took issue with that statement, saying, "I don't think we've indicated that." He then hinted that there will be more pardons coming soon.

Shortly later, the AP reported that Bush had in fact granted 19 more pardons:

Before leaving for the holidays, President Bush commuted one prison sentence and granted 19 pardons, including one to a man who helped the Jewish resistance in the 1940s.

With this latest batch, Bush has granted a total of 191 pardons and nine commutations. That's fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their two terms.

Included in the latest list is Charles Winters, who died in the 1980s in Florida. Winters helped ship arms and aircraft to Jews trying to found their own state in the Middle East. He was convicted of violating the Neutrality Act and served 18 months in prison. Two others, Herman Greenspun and Al Schwimmer, also were convicted but did not serve time. They were later granted presidential pardons.

Bush also pardoned Issac Toussie, who pleaded guilty to making false statements to HUD and mail fraud as part of a massive housing scam.

A full list of the pardons is here.

Comments

[jemiltd]

How about pardoning the innocent? Here are a few: William Mayo, Troy Davis,Kevin Cooper, Glen Seals,
Mumia Abu-jamal.

[chirps]

Mumia aint innocent. Just a reminder.

[plzchuteme]

I heard that there was some confusion in communications during the Obama-Bush luncheon meetings. You see, Obama was thought to be yelling at Bush. Not true, he was just speaking louder because he thought Bush had a hearing impairment. Every time he would say something to the president, Bush would look at him quizzically, and ask, "pardon me?"

[Shikamaru]

LOL ........ most people missed that... good one yo

[CharlesJ]

If Bush has any level of good left in him, he will pardon those two US/Mexican border guards that sit in prision. He knows the case I referr to, these two men were doing their job and an over zealous fed, built a sleezy case against these two men.

[WonderingNThinking]

Scooter Libby was pardoned from jail time. That's pretty big.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20081223/bush-pardons/

[karela]

There is room for mercy in the world. When the Presidential pardon is used as Lincoln used it, then it becomes a thing that we can all take pride in. I'm in favor of Presidential pardons, but I do think that it would be better for the country if Presidents told us why each pardon was given. I believe Lincoln sent a boy home because his mother had lost all of her other sons in the war and her last boy had become so fearful that he ran away from the front lines. There is room for mercy in the world. Just give us the reasons like Lincoln did.

[indy girl]

I just read the complete list, and I have no idea why any of these people would have merited a pardon. Some of them sound like common street thugs. Methamphetamine production?

[karela]

I don't object to Presidential pardons. There's a lot of injustice in the world and a lot of people end up in jail that don't deserve what happened to them. But I do wish that Presidents had to tell us not only who they pardoned, but why they pardoned them. That might eliminate some of pardons for money plan and it might make us feel better about pardons. Abraham Lincoln used it in ways that showed mercy and compassion. When in the hands of a person of integrity, the Presidential pardon is a second chance for people who deserve it and we could all feel good about it. But it would help if reasons were given for each one.

[MsAttitude]

I agree!

[rextrek]

If Bush Doesn't pardon those 2 Border Patrol Guards...Lou Dobbs Head WILL EXPLODE!!!

[LaurieLee]

From Politico:

"Seems like a bit of an odd time to pardon a guy who pleaded guilty to the relatively minor charges of making false statements to HUD and mail fraud amid an investigation of a massive housing scam that involved allegedly sticking the victims, homebuyers, with ballooning mortgages.

But President Bush today pardoned Isaac Toussie of Brooklyn, who was convicted and sentenced to five months in prison in 2003 and paid a $10,000 fine for just that. He and his father were poster children in a 2002 BusinessWeek piece on the dark side of the housing boom.

His father, Robert, did give $28,500 to the RNC this year."

Ah, that explains it.

[LaurieLee]

Hmmm, I wonder if Palin's daughter's baby-daddy's mother will be able to make the pardon cut off. She seems to fit the mold.

[GerryS]

georgie finally moved up from pardoning drug dealers---

[realpolitic]

Well, anyone who rips off the poor, as the man involved in the housing scam did, has a good chance for a Bush pardon.

[1differentdrummer]

George has made it hard to like anything he does.

[watchingthings]

Presidential pardons should be legal only in cases where evidence against someone is questionable.

[1099]

Good luck rewriting the Constitution or do you nor understand the concept of a pardon?

[chirps]

Bush shows why it needs rewriting.

[Deluded]

U know it's part of the healing process forgive yourself and move on - besides it's Christmass - no offence meant to those who would like him hung by the ---------------- on the tree!