Bush Pardons 15 Convicts, Commutes 1 Prison Sentence

FoxNews ^ | 3/25/8 | Ian McCaleb and Greg Simmons

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON —  The Justice Department announced Tuesday that President Bush has issued 15 new pardons and commuted one prison sentence.

All 15 pardons were for men who were convicted of non-violent and mostly minor offenses, some dating back decades. Among the convictions were drug possession and distribution, illegal firearms dealing, false housing statements and wildlife infractions.

The single commutation announced Tuesday was for a Portsmouth, Va., woman convicted of attempted drug distribution. Patricia Beckford was sentenced in 1992 to 23 years in federal prison for conspiracy and attempt to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. Following the president's order, however, Beckford will get out early. Her release is now set for July 24, 2008.

A five-year term of supervised release for Beckford will stand, officials said. While a pardon lifts many of the non-prison-related sanctions of a conviction — which can include the right to vote if a state does not have a specific rule preventing it from being lifted — a commutation only provides for early prison release. Beckford also was fined $10,000.

Getting a presidential pardon doesn't necessarily require a $1,000 an hour lawyer and a tight friendship with the White House. One pardon recipient said he learned Tuesday morning he had been pardoned for a conviction he received in the 1990s.

[SmithL]

And who didn’t get a deserved pardon?

[sappy]

Why even get involved, President Bush? Really!

[mtbopfuyn]

I didn’t see a pardon for any BP.

[sappy]

Scooter!

[1rudeboy]

If you and I are thinking the same people, then you can't pardon someone while their appeal is being heard. It's just not the way it works.

[Czar]

Lets see now...

I'm guessing the two railroaded border patrol agents (Compean and Ramos) did not get a deserved pardon.

What do I win for having the correct answer?

[SkyPilot]

Two Border agents.

[Fresh Wind]

I can think of two...

[SkyPilot]

It's just not the way it works.

The the law is an ass.

He is the President - and they are already convicted and in prison.

He can pardon them anytime.

[1rudeboy]

The law is an ass. One would think conservatives would understand that (or federal law enforcement officers who tamper with evidence and lie about it).

[pissant]

And should have done so, many months ago.

[TChad]

I'm guessing the two railroaded border patrol agents (Compean and Ramos) did not get a deserved pardon.

Maybe after the election. A full pardon for Libby would be good, too.

[calex59]

What do I win for having the correct answer?

A place on the governmental black list(as most of us already are)for daring to speak out about the pro-illegal attitude of our beloved President.

[SmithL]

You win the right to know that you’re right.

[The Duke]

I personally know someone who defrauded several people of their life's savings and got 18 months in a facility that was more resort than prison.

Ramos and Compean didn't do proper paperwork for discharging firearms and get 10 years in solitary confinement.

Justice is dead.

[TheBattman]

Actually - a pardon CAN be granted at any time. If that isn’t the way it is “customarily done”, fine. But George could pardon those men at any point.

But we all know that he won’t because their prosecution was his idea in the first place... can’t have his friends in Mexico upset that one of their drug-running thugs got shot...

[1rudeboy]

Well, there ya' go. One cannot wait to complain about federal minimum sentencing guidelines until they crash down on someone you support. I think that they are unconstitutional, but no conservatives (apart from the legal ones) cared about them until now.

It makes the complaints about "justice" ring hollow.

[Eurale]

‘Two Border agents.”

Don’t worry, he’ll do it before he leaves office.

[Czar]

"Maybe after the election."

And maybe not.