commutation news stories on Newser

Cheney Furious at Bush for Not Pardoning Libby

Matt Cantor — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:26:57 CST

Dick Cheney is furious that President Bush wouldn’t listen when he repeatedly pushed for a last-minute pardon for Scooter Libby, the New York Daily News reports. The ex-VP “went to the mat and came back and back and back at Bush” for a full pardon, said one close to Cheney....

Bush Rejected Pardons for Milken, Other 'High Rollers'

Nick McMaster — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:00:16 CST

George Bush formally denied pardons for several prominent politicians and businessmen on his last day in office, the Justice Department told the Los Angeles Times today. Among those whose pleas fell on deaf ears were Michael Milken, a businessman convicted of insider trading and stock evasion, and Randall Cunningham, a...

Cheney Says Bush Erred in Not Pardoning Libby

Harry Kimball — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:15:01 CST

Dick Cheney believes disgraced former chief of staff Scooter Libby, convicted in the CIA leak investigation, deserved a pardon, the Weekly Standard reports. “He was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice,” the former vice president said. “Obviously, I disagree with President Bush.” Bush’s decision has been ascribed to...

Bush Commutes Sentences of Former US Border Agents

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:56:34 CST

In his final acts of clemency, President Bush today commuted the prison sentences of two former US Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration. Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover...

Bush Pardons 19 More, But Not Libby (Yet)

Harry Kimball — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:52:01 CST

Another round of presidential pardons today might not be the last, the Washington Post reports. “The president has maintained his authority to do that until his last day,” a spokesman said. No big names, such as Scooter Libby, were announced, but President Bush did issue a rare posthumous pardon for...

Big Names Await News on Pardons

Matt Cantor — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:30:58 CST

President Bush continues to be stingy with pardons, but some big names will be hoping for clemency in December, the AP reports. Among the 2,000 applicants are junk-bond king Michael Milken and American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh. Bush also could excuse potential future convicts such as pitcher Roger...

Conrad Black Asks Bush for Clemency

Matt Cantor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:49:47 CST

Onetime media mogul Conrad Black is seeking clemency from President Bush in hopes that his 6½-year jail sentence will be commuted, the CBC reports. Black, the former chair of newspaper firm Hollinger International, was convicted on fraud and obstruction of justice charges in 2007 for channeling $6 million from his...

Requests for Pardons Flood White House

Harry Kimball — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:33:38 CDT

President Bush is nearing the end of his term, and felons are coming out of the woodwork in historic numbers to ask for pardons and reduced sentences, the New York Times reports. It is not unusual for there to be a spike in pardons granted by a president in his...

Commutation Decision Marks Serious Shift

M. Morris — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:15:00 CDT

In six years as governor of Texas, George W. Bush issued 20 pardons and commuted one death sentence. As president, he seemed to be hewing to the same standard, granting 113 pardons (against more than 1,000 appeals) and commuting just four sentences. The fourth commutation sends the Times in...