Conservative publisher seeks Bush pardon; Trial of former precious-metals dealer said tainted

WorldNetDaily ^ | 5/13/2003 | Jon Dougherty

[HiTech RedNeck]

... William R. Kennedy, the former owner of a precious-metals firm and publisher of Conservative Digest, ... is currently serving 20 years in federal prison at Nellis Correctional Institute in Las Vegas, Nev. Sentenced in 1994, Kennedy was convicted of mail fraud and money laundering charges... Kennedy's claim stands out as distinct.

And Kennedy, his family and his lawyers hope President Bush takes notice. In a summary briefing provided to WorldNetDaily, Kennedy's legal team – led by attorney Craig Parshall of Fredricksburg, Va. – laid out the reasons why they want the president to grant him executive clemency.

If even a fraction of what the legal team asserts is true, Kennedy's conviction and resultant lengthy sentence could represent one of the all-time miscarriages of justice, and one that perhaps only a president can rectify.

In a letter to Bush requesting executive clemency, Kennedy's supporters – including Tim LaHaye, of Tim LaHaye Ministries, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, talk-show host Marlin Maddox, as well as Republican Reps. John Duncan of Tennesse and Mark Souder of Indiana – say he has served more than enough time given his conviction, and have pledged to help him upon release.

...

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well.

[patriciaruth]

I think the person this fellow has to convince is Ashcroft, not Bush. Don't these requests for clemency come through a Justice Department review?

And it might be wise for his advocates to leave out that the fellow does Bible study. There is no religious test for clemency.

[the_Watchman]

Most people would take efforts "to assist other prisoners by leading Bible studies and worship services" as a sign of good character. Not proof, but certainly an indication.

As Dennis Praeger noted on his television show several years ago: Consider that you are in a bad part of town after dark and you are approached by 10 men walking down the street. Now, you are told that they just came from a Bible study. Does your viewpoint of the situation shift?

[HiTech RedNeck]

The Justice Department has its say to the President on the matter, but there is no constitutional requirement for this. From the time line it appears parent while it started as a Reno prosecution, Ashcroft must have continued to oppose his appeals -- not exactly the most receptive forum. Had Ashcroft considered it a travesty of law he would have simply filed no response to the appeals.

This will be hard for Bush because the religious overtones will make Bush vultnerable to accusations of playing favorites.

What I am curious about is what happened to the mendacious prosecutors. Did they get any penalty for it, or even get fired? That's almost a worse scandal than the excesses of the law.

[HiTech RedNeck]

From the time line it appears that while it started as a Reno prosecution...

[patriciaruth]

the religious overtones will make Bush vultnerable to accusations of playing favorites.

He won't decide it on religious overtones. Thus, putting the religious overtones in the appeal make it likely that he will scrutinize it all the more.

[patriciaruth]

Most people would take efforts "to assist other prisoners by leading Bible studies and worship services" as a sign of good character. Not proof, but certainly an indication.

How about efforts to assist other prisioners to convert to Islam or efforts to assist other prisioners with ACLU sponsored lawsuits?

Our Constitution's Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion and our history enthrones equality before the law. Thus, one's religion or lack of religion should never be a factor in granting clemency or a stay of execution.

[The Red Zone]

I-beg-your-pardon bump