Bush pardons 16, commutes sentence in drug case

CNN.com International ^ | Associated Press

[DJ Taylor]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush issued 16 pardons Thursday and commuted the sentence of an Iowa man convicted of drug charges.

Six of the federal offenses were drug crimes, while others included bank fraud, mail fraud, the acceptance of a kickback, a false statement on a loan application and conspiracy to defraud the government over taxes.

Seven of the 16 received no prison or jail time, instead getting probation or a reduction in their military pensions.

The longest sentence was nine years, for aiding cocaine distribution, followed by a six-year term for conspiracy to possess marijuana.

With this batch, Bush has issued 113 pardons and commuted three sentences in his nearly six years in the White House, according to spokesman Tony Fratto.

A pardon amounts to federal forgiveness for one's crime, while a commutation cuts short an existing prison term.

[DJ Taylor]

Just a reminder, this past year two U.S. Border Patrolmen were sentenced to twenty years in jail for shooting a fleeing Mexican drug smuggler who they thought was armed. These Border Patrolmen were found guilty after Homeland Security sent agents to Mexico to find the drug smuggler and promised him immunity if he would return to the U.S. to testify against the Border Patrol Agents accused of shooting him (In the ass, I might add).

These Border Patrolmen petitioned the President for pardons, but the President pardons drug dealers instead. Go figure.

[jaydubya2]

What about Scooter Libby???

[Vaquero]

conpassionate conservatism I suppose...
....
......I am no koolaid drinker.....

[Michael.SF.]

Any Puerto Rican terrorists on the list?

Oh, wait, his wife is not running for the Senate.

[desherwood7]

The President overlooking these honest, hardworking individuals is insane to say the least.

[red irish]

We should get as many people as we can to let the President know that this should not be happening,letting these border agents go to jail while he pardoned the drug dealers! Everyone should call their local Senators about this injustice.

[TomGuy]

GW should consider the fate of the 2 border patrol agents and the many soldiers incarcerated due to their actions in the War in Iraq.

Those actually in service to America deserve better.

[HELLRAISER II]

UnF***ing believable. After 6 years of supporting Bush through hell or highwater and he doesn't have the brains or balls to pardon the people who are actually trying to protect our country because he d@mn sure isn't protecting our borders. He definately has lost my respect & my support.

[girlangler]

Good point, this is ridiculous.

[Perdogg]

Are you kidding??? That would be nice, but it might upset Ma Pelosi. /sarc

[theDentist]

He's afraid of the "political fallout".

[peggybac]

Bush says the border guys got a fair trial. And those who he pardoned didn't? This makes my blood boil.

[PeterPrinciple]

My impression of the list indicates that most had served their sentence or most of it. and this was clearing the slate.

Would suspect (hope) he might commute the sentence of the border agents before his term is over but that it is too fresh to do now. Bush has respected the judicial system but cleared the slate for some.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Where are the BushBots on this?

[DustyMoment]

We should get as many people as we can to let the President know that this should not be happening,letting these border agents go to jail while he pardoned the drug dealers!

Idealistically, I agree with you. However, from a realistic perspective, Bush doesn't listen to either the people or his own party representatives (now cooling their heels at home after being voted out!!).

I will tilt at windmills as much as anyone but, after being ignored long enough, I eventually get the hint.

[Cagey]

UnF***ing believable.

Sadly, it's very believable. This President has no intention of doing anything to curb illegal immigration. He never has and never will.

[linn37]

Don't you have to wait to be convicted before you can get a pardon?

[processing please hold]

Where are the BushBots on this?

They're all on the 'Bush is the second coming thread'. re: A day in the life of President Bush.

[commish]

I too do not understand why the President did not look into pardoning the Border Patrolmen -- but we do not know if that has even reached his desk yet. if he is ignoring them, then SHAME!

However, everyone so far is making it look like Bush just released a bunch of crazed druggies from prison -- AND THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH. Every single pardon was to people who HAVE ALREADY SERVED their full sentence. Some over 20 years ago. IOW he is giving pardons to people who paid their debt to society and have led productive lives since. All these pardons are doing are wiping the slate clean.

The one questionable act is the sentence commmutation, but the article does not even attempt to say WHY the man's sentence was commuted. and even though Bush is letting him out of prison, the man will still be under SUPERVISED release.

Bitch about him ignoring the agents -- and count me among the bitchers -- but do not be disengenious about the other pardons. It does nothing but smack of an agenda on your part.

[Always Right]

You think Bush is gonna pardon those agents after Bush's Justice Department went to so much trouble to nail them? They should never have charged those agents, but the chance of a pardon is really low.