Dean: Bush Gives Scooter Libby A Get Out of Jail Free Card

Following the announcement that President Bush commuted the sentence of Vice President Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a crime since the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

“Once again President Bush and the GOP have undermined a core American value: equal justice under the law for every American. By commuting this sentence, President Bush is sending a clear message that the rules don’t apply to the Bush White House or loyal Republican cronies. After promising that anyone who violated the law would be 'taken care of,' President Bush instead handed Scooter Libby a get out of jail free card. Though Libby was convicted by a jury of lying about a matter of national security, President Bush is sparing him the consequences ordinary Americans would face. This conviction was the first moment of justice in a Bush Administration void of accountability. It’s a sad day for America when the President once again puts protecting his friends ahead of equal justice under the law.”

Pardons issued by President Clinton just in January 2001:

ALLEN, Verla Jean Everton, Arkansas False statements to agency of United States

ALTIERE, Nicholas M. Las Vegas, Nevada Importation of cocaine

ALTSCHUL, Bernice Ruth Sherman Village, California Conspiracy to commit money laundering

ANDERSON, Joe, Jr. Grove Hill, Alabama Income tax evasion

ANDERSON, William Sterling Spartanburg, South Carolina Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured financial institution, false statements to a federally insured financial institution, wire fraud

AZIZKHANI, Mansour T. Huntsville, Alabama Conspiracy and making false statements in bank loan applications

BABIN, Cleveland Victor, Jr. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Conspiracy to commit offense against the United States by utilizing the U.S. mail in furtherance of a scheme to defraud

BAGLEY, Chris Harmon Harrah, Oklahoma Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine

BANE, Scott Lynn Mahomet, Illinois Unlawful distribution of marijuana

BARBER, Thomas Cleveland Hampton, Florida Issuing worthless checks

BARGON, Peggy Ann Monticello, Illinois Violation of the Lacey Act, violation of the Bald Eagle Protection Act

BHATKA, Tansukhlal Income tax evasion

BLAMPIED, David Roscoe Ketchum, Idaho Conspiracy to distribute cocaine

BORDERS, William Arthur, Jr. Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to corruptly solicit and accept money in return for influencing the official acts of a federal district court judge (Alcee L. Hastings), and to defraud the United States in connection with the performance of lawful government functions; corruptly influencing, obstructing, impeding and endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the due administration of justice, and aiding and abetting therein; traveling interstate with intent to commit bribery

BOREL, Arthur David Little Rock, Arkansas Odometer rollback

BOREL, Douglas Charles Conway, Arkansas Odometer rollback

BRABHAM, George Thomas Austin, Texas Making a false statement or report to a federally insured bank

BRASWELL, Almon Glenn Doravilla, Georgia Conspiracy to defraud government with respect to claims; perjury

BROWDER, Leonard Aiken, South Carolina Illegal dispensing of controlled substance and Medicaid fraud

BROWN, David Steven New York, New York Securities fraud and mail fraud

BURLESON, Delores Caroylene, aka Delores Cox Burleson Hanna, Oklahoma Possession of marijuana

BUSTAMANTE, John H. Cleveland, Ohio Wire fraud

CAMPBELL, Mary Louise Ruleville, Mississippi Aiding and abetting the unauthorized use and transfer of food stamps

CANDELARIA, Eloida False information in registering to vote

CAPILI, Dennis Sobrevinas Glendale, California Filing false statements in alien registration

CHAMBERS, Donna Denise Memphis, Tennessee Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a telephone to facilitate cocaine conspiracy

CHAPMAN, Douglas Eugene Scott, Arkansas Bank fraud

CHAPMAN, Ronald Keith Scott, Arkansas Bank fraud

CHAVEZ, Francisco Larios Santa Ana, California Aiding and abetting illegal entry of aliens

CISNEROS, Henry G.

CLINTON, Roger

COHN, Stuart Harris New Haven, Connecticut 1. Illegal sale of gold options 2. Illegal sale of silver options

COOPER, David Marc Wapakoneta, Ohio Conspiracy to defraud the government

COX, Ernest Harley, Jr. Pine Bluff, Arkansas Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured savings and loan, misapplication of bank funds, false statements

CROSS, John F., Jr. Little Rock, Arkansas Embezzlement by a bank employee

CUNNINGHAM, Rickey Lee Amarillo, Texas Possession with intent to distribute marijuana

DE LABIO, Richard Anthony Baltimore, Maryland Mail fraud, aiding and abetting

DEUTCH, John Described in January 19, 2001 information

DOUGLAS, Richard False statements

DOWNE, Edward Reynolds Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion; securities fraud

DUDLEY, Marvin Dean Omaha, Nebraska False statements

DUNCAN, Larry Lee Branson, Missouri Altering an automobile odometer

FAIN, Robert Clinton Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return

FERNANDEZ, Marcos Arcenio Miami, Florida Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana

FERROUILLET, Alvarez Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering, false statements

FUGAZY, William Denis Harrison, New York Perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding

GEORGE, Lloyd Reid Mail fraud

GOLDSTEIN, Louis Las Vegas, Nevada Possession of goods stolen from interstate shipment

GORDON, Rubye Lee Tampa, Florida Forgery of U.S. Treasury checks

GREEN, Pincus Switzerland

HAMNER, Robert Ivey Searcy, Arkansas Conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

HANDLEY, Samuel Price Hodgenville, Kentucky Conspiracy to steal government property

HANDLEY, Woodie Randolph Hodgenville, Kentucky Conspiracy to steal government property

HARMON, Jay Houston Jonesboro, Arkansas 1. Conspiracy to import marijuana, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, importation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute 2. Conspiracy to import cocaine

HEMMINGSON, John Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering

HERDLINGER, David S. St. Simons Island, Georgia Mail fraud

HUCKLEBERRY, Debi Rae Ogden, Utah Distribution of methamphetamine

JAMES, Donald Ray Fairfield Bay, Arkansas Mail fraud, wire fraud, and false statement to a bank to influence credit approval

JOBE, Stanley Pruet El Paso, Texas Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud

JOHNSON, Ruben H. Austin, Texas Theft and misapplication of bank funds by a bank officer or director

JONES, Linda Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other offenses against the United States

LAKE, James Howard Illegal corporate campaign contributions, wire fraud

LEWIS, June Louise Lowellville, Ohio Embezzlement by a bank employee

LEWIS, Salim Bonnor Short Hills, New Jersey Securities fraud, record keeping violations, margin violations

LODWICK, John Leighton Excelsior Springs, Missouri Income tax evasion

LOPEZ, Hildebrando San Isidro, Texas Distribution of cocaine

LUACES, Jose Julio Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Possession of an unregistered firearm

MANESS, James Timothy Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

MANNING, James Lowell Little Rock, Arkansas Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return

MARTIN, John Robert Gulf Breeze, Florida Income tax evasion

MARTINEZ, Frank Ayala Elgin, Texas Conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service

MARTINEZ, Silvia Leticia Beltran Elgin, Texas Conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service

McCORMICK, John Francis Dedham, Massachusetts Racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, and violation of the Hobbs act

McDOUGAL, Susan H.

MECHANIC, Howard Lawrence 1. Violating the Civil Disobedience Act of 1968 2. Failure to appear 3. Making false statement in acquiring a passport

MITCHELL, Brook K., Sr. Conspiracy to illegally obtain USDA subsidy payments, false statements to USDA, and false entries on USDA forms

MORGAN, Charles Wilfred, III Little Rock, Arkansas Conspiracy to distribute cocaine

MORISON, Samuel Loring Crofton, Maryland Willful transmission of defense information, unauthorized possession and retention of defense information, theft of government property

NAZZARO, Richard Anthony Winchester, Massachusetts Perjury and conspiracy to commit mail fraud

NOSENKO, Charlene Ann Phoenix, Arizona Conspiracy to defraud the United States, and influencing or injuring an officer or juror generally

OBERMEIER, Vernon Raymond Belleville, Illinois Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and using a communications facility to facilitate distribution of cocaine

OGALDE, Miguelina Glendale, California Conspiracy to import cocaine

OWEN, David C. Olathe, Kansas Filing a false tax return

PALMER, Robert W. Little Rock, Arkansas Conspiracy to make false statements

PERHOSKY, Kelli Anne Bridgeville, Pennsylvania Conspiracy to commit mail fraud

PEZZOPANE, Richard H. Palo Heights, Illinois Conspiracy to commit racketeering, and mail fraud

PHILLIPS, Orville Rex Waco, Texas Unlawful structure of a financial transaction

POLING, Vinson Stewart, Jr. Baldwin, Maryland Making a false bank entry, and aiding and abetting

PROUSE, Norman Lyle Conyers, Georgia Operating or directing the operation of a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol

PRUITT, Willie H. H., Jr. Port Richey, Florida Absent without official leave

PURSLEY, Danny Martin, Sr. Goodlettsville, Tennessee Aiding and abetting the conduct of an illegal gambling business, and obstruction of state laws to facilitate illegal gambling

RAVENEL, Charles D. Charleston, South Carolina Conspiracy to defraud the United States

RAY, William Clyde Altus, Oklahoma Fraud using a telephone

REGALADO, Alfredo Luna Pharr, Texas Failure to report the transportation of currency in excess of $10,000 into the United States

RICAFORT, Ildefonso Reynes Houston, Texas Submission of false claims to Veterans Administration

RICH, Marc Switzerland

RIDDLE, Howard Winfield Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado Violation of the Lacey Act (receipt of illegally imported animal skins)

RILEY, Richard Wilson, Jr. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute

ROBBINS, Samuel Lee Cedar Park, Texas Misprision of a felony

RODRIGUEZ, Joel Gonzales Houston, Texas Theft of mail by a postal employee

ROGERS, Michael James McAllen, Texas Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana

ROSS, Anna Louise Lubbock, Texas Distribution of cocaine

RUST, Gerald Glen Avery, Texas False declarations before grand jury

RUST, Jerri Ann Avery, Texas False declarations before grand jury

RUTHERFORD, Bettye June Albuquerque, New Mexico Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

SANDS, Gregory Lee Sioux Falls, South Dakota Conspiracy to distribute cocaine

SCHWIMMER, Adolph Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to export arms and ammunition to a foreign country and related charges

SERETTI, Albert A., Jr. McKees Rocks, Pennyslvania Conspiracy and wire fraud

SHAW, Patricia Campbell Hearst Wilton, Connecticut Armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a felony

SMITH, Dennis Joseph Redby, Minnesota 1. Unauthorized absence 2. Failure to obey off-limits instructions 3. Unauthorized absence

SMITH, Gerald Owen Florence, Mississippi Armed bank robbery

SMITH, Stephen A.

SPEAKE, Jimmie Lee Breckenridge, Texas Conspiracy to possess and utter counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve notes

STEWART, Charles Bernard Sparta, Georgia Illegally destroying U.S. Mail

STEWART-ROLLINS, Marlena Francisca Euclid, Ohio Conspiracy to distribute cocaine

SYMINGTON, John Fife, III

TANNEHILL, Richard Lee Reno, Nevada Conspiracy and restraint of trade

TENAGLIA, Nicholas C. Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania Receipt of illegal payments under the Medicare program

THOMAS, Gary Allen Lancaster, Texas Theft of mail by postal employee

TODD, Larry Weldon Gardendale, Texas Conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. in violation of the Lacey Act and the Airborne Hunting Act

TREVINO, Olga C. Converse, Texas Misapplication by a bank employee

VAMVOUKLIS, Ignatious Exeter, New Hampshire Possession of cocaine

VAN DE WEERD, Patricia A. Tomahawk, Wisconsin Theft by a U.S. Postal employee

WADE, Christopher V.

WARMATH, Bill Wayne Walls, Mississippi Obstruction of correspondence

WATSON, Jack Kenneth Oakridge, Oregon Making false statements of material facts to the U.S. Forest Service

WEBB, Donna Lynn Panama City, Florida False entry in savings and loan record by employee

WELLS, Donald William Phenix City, Alabama Possession of an unregistered firearm

WENDT, Robert H. Kirkwood, Missouri Conspiracy to effectuate the escape of a federal prisoner

WILLIAMS, Jack L. Making false statements to federal agents

WILLIAMS, Kevin Arthur Omaha, Nebraska Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine

WILLIAMS, Robert Michael Davison, Michigan Conspiracy to transport in foreign commerce securities obtained by fraud

WILSON, Jimmie Lee Helena, Arkansas Converting property mortgaged or pledged to a farm credit agency, and converting public money to personal use

WINGATE, Thelma Louise Sale City, Georgia Mail fraud

WOOD, Mitchell Couey Sherwood, Arkansas Conspiracy to possess and to distribute cocaine

WOOD, Warren Stannard Las Vegas, Nevada Conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing a false document with the Securities and Exchange Commission

WORTHEY, Dewey Conway, Arkansas Medicaid fraud

YALE, Rick Allen Belleville, Illinois Bank fraud

YASAK, Joseph A. Chicago, Illinois Knowingly making under oath a false declaration regarding a material fact before a grand jury

YINGLING, William Stanley Interstate transportation of stolen vehicle

YOUNG, Phillip David Little Rock, Arkansas Interstate transportation and sale of fish and wildlife

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