Free Republic

The nation was stunned by the senseless and savage cold-blooded murders of four young police officers in Lakewood, Wash., over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Whenever a police officer or soldier is killed, the loss is even more profound, for they are the ones who stand between our way of life and total anarchy. Nine years ago, the name Maurice Clemmons crossed my desk. I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago. I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known...

Nation: Multiple homicides in California the work of Russian mob, prosecutors say LOS ANGELES (March 21, 2002 11:00 p.m. EST) - Five people whose bodies were pulled from a reservoir near Sacramento had been abducted, blackmailed and killed by Russian mobsters, the U.S. attorney said Thursday. The victims included two filmmakers, an accountant, an electronics executive and a home builder from the Los Angeles area. More than $5.5 million in ransom was demanded of relatives, U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said. Six men of Russian descent are in custody, without bond, charged in indictments with hostage-taking or receiving ransom money...