Marion Jones asks Bush to commute 6-month sentence

WASHINGTON — Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones has asked President Bush to commute her six-month prison sentence for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam.

The Justice Department confirmed Monday that Jones is among hundreds of convicted felons who have applied for presidential pardons or sentence commutations, but would provide no further details. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that removes civil liabilities stemming from a criminal conviction, while a commutation reduces or eliminates a person's sentence.

Such applications are reviewed by the Justice Department, which makes a recommendation to the president.

It's unclear when Jones, who won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, made the request. She entered prison March 7 in Fort Worth, Texas.

After frequently denying that she ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted last October she had lied to federal investigators in November 2003. Jones also admitted lying about her knowledge of the involvement of Tim Montgomery, the father of her older son and a former 100-meter world-record holder, in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks.

Jones was sentenced in January to six months in prison and 400 hours of community service in each of the two years following her release. She was sentenced to six months on the steroids case and two months on the check-fraud case, but was permitted to serve those sentences concurrently.

The judge in Jones' case said the check-fraud scheme was a major crime, and the wide use of steroids "affects the integrity of athletic competition."

(This version CORRECTS the definition of pardon.)

Comments

[joshrox]

Everyone has choices in life, first, she chose to take the drugs, second, she chose to lie about it.

She got caught in her own choices, do the friggin' time, you reap what you sow.

[research]

It seems to me her real crime was finally admitting what she did. For this she goes to prison. Whereas the guys who keep insisting they never used steroids are free.

The lesson: never confess.

Bushco knows it well.

[dillydawg]

C'mon Ms Jones, do your time and spend the rest of your life becoming a better person. Six months is not forever, and when released, get involved in public service. Pres. Bush will not help you, your crime doesn't met the Scooter Libby level. It is just not big enough for him to pardon.

[JeffersonState]

What kind of precedent would that set? Asking the President to commute a prison sentence for being found guilty of lying to federal agents.

Our president has too much class to entertain such a request.

This is a nation of laws.... if you do the crime you......
Aw crap.... nevermind.

[Big0725]

And another thing. Doesn't everybody realize that possession and dispensing of steroids without a prescription is illegal. She's a criminal, pure and simple.

[starfire426]

An African-American, former Olymian, pleading for a commuted sentence from a Republican President (who declined to attend a NAACP convention a few years ago). In the words of his very own father, GHW Bush, "Not gonna happen!"

[mlr710]

Marion probably just wants the probation kicked, she'll be physically out in Sept....but like everybody else, Bush is so corrupt himself, I'm inclined to think he ought to pardon everybody that submits a request for one.

[cranialknowledge]

Sorry, you should have betrayed your country by revealing the identity of a CIA agent or something like that to get a pardon from W. W could give a cr@p about you or anyone who hasn't done something for him. Good luck with that.

[mergina]

He'll never do it. She is a woman. She is a democrat. She certainly does not deserve her sentence. Now if she were a balding white man who resembles an orc, Bush would do it.

[gd7277467]

Common America !

Pardon this poor lady, considering her contribution to sports !!

You love your sports, and your sports stars !!!

Give this poor woman a break !!

[ShanniC]

I don't feel sorry for this broad one iota. She chose to inject herself with 'roids and she is paying the price. These celebrities must think that by virtue of being famous we must kow tow to them.. Tough $hit!

[Coinyer101]

who she think she is, karl rove?

[SwingVoter]

There are certain punishments that in itself, is the revelation of the offense. My point being that she has been disgraced and shamed--lost her metals-- lost her endorsements. So six months in prison is unnecessary.

[dr4Will]

SHE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CONVICTED PERSON--SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH BREAKS AS AN ATHLETE ALL HER LIFE--SHE CHEATED, SHE SHOULD PAY THE PRICE!

[Teritt]

He'll pardon Scoot er, but since there's such collusion against Bar ry Bonds, she doesn't stand a chance.

[Desdemondo]

She is a convicted felon and MUST serve her full term. She competed against and denied many athletes, who followed the rules - she did not. On what grounds is she to be pardoned?

A crime is a crime. There are not mitigating circumstances in her case.

Her case is signed and sealed - a serious warning to other dopehead athletes.

[independent32955]

Come on, show a little class, it's not like a covert CIA agent was outed here? and bush has already commuted one sentence for that.

[mexamerican]

c'mon. that's so sanctimonious. she's lost her medals, her reputation, and still you want her to do jail time. how about writing a letter to bush screaming about his commutation of ol' scooter libby? there are REAL crimes being committed right now, torture, illegal wiretapping, embezzlement from the govt, these white collar scum robbing us all blind, and you're all worked up about marion jones? good god, how about some perspective.

[danoj]

This is one pardon he shouldn't entertain in my opinion. There are more deserving people im sure. And no Scooter wasn't one of them.

[thankulord13]

Yeah like Scooter Libby!

[philinburb]

The war on drugs is a war against the people. So Desdemondo and danoj, fight on brave little drug warriors.