Monday, November 24, 2008

The Bush Pardons

All Presidents do it. I won't even try to justify the Clinton pardons or compare the two. I'm just passing this along without judgement or commentary. You decide.

On the latest pardon list were:

_Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo. She was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

_Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D. Cordes was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits importation into the country of wildlife taken in violation of conservation laws.

_Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill., who was convicted of making false statements to the federal government.

_Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas, for reporting or helping cover up a crime.

_Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va. Harley was convicted of wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine.

_Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga., whose offense was unauthorized acquisition of food stamps.

_Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C., who was convicted of income tax evasion.

_Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla., convicted of bank embezzlement.

_William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas, who was sentenced for making false entries, books, reports or statements to a bank.

_Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla., who was sentenced for misapplication of bank funds.

_Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

_Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, who was convicted for unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony.

_Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas, convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit.

_Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark., who was convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of government property.

10 comments:

Old Fart said...

This is actually a presidential power granted to him that he should use. I wish he would have used it more, rather than attempting to make up powers to use not granting to the President.

GWB will go down in history as one of the worst presidents constitutionaly speaking... EVER.

Pardon all of your buddies and the citizens can be pissed, but it's within your power. Authorize warrentless wire taps... not so much.

At least he included two drug "crimes" amoung the pardons.

Anonymous said...

I thought that people were pardoned because they were innocent.

Why would anybody pardon someone who is guilty of the crime they are accused of?

Off to google I go to solve this....

Anonymous said...

This is interesting, and I hate people who cut and paste shit into their comments, but it's interesting that acceptance of a pardon is an admission of guilt, apparently:

"The Justice Department recommends anyone requesting a pardon must wait five years after conviction or release prior to receiving a pardon. A presidential pardon may be granted at any time, however, and as when Ford pardoned Nixon, the pardoned person need not yet have been convicted or even formally charged with a crime. Clemency may also be granted without the filing of a formal request and even if the intended recipient has no desire to be pardoned. In the overwhelming majority of cases, however, the Pardon Attorney will consider only petitions from persons who have completed their sentences and, in addition, have demonstrated their ability to lead a responsible and productive life for a significant period after conviction or release from confinement.[3]

It appears that a pardon can be rejected, and must be affirmatively accepted to be officially recognized by the courts. Acceptance also carries with it an admission of guilt.[4]"

Anonymous said...

I think the (noble) theory behind a pardon is to correct a miscarriage of justice (perpetrators of the Whiskey Rebellion were pardoned), but as you pointed out XO, the Clinton pardons are a perfect example of pardons as a form of revenue.

Xavier Onassis said...

Old Fart - "GWB will go down in history as one of the worst presidents constitutionaly speaking... EVER."

Agreed! I still think that War Crime charges at The Hague are not out of question.

FletcherDodge said...

Shit! I always put off submitting my request for a pardon until the last minute, and I always end up missing the deadline.

I Travel for JOOLS said...

Bill Clinton was more adept at this pardon business. He pardoned the big fish that he knew would eventually pay him back for his pardon. An economist, George Bush is not.

WLIB said...

JOOLS: It looks like Bush & Co are looking to make the bulk of their bank with Midnight Regulations rather than 11th hour pardons:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/24/081124taco_talk_kolbert

AdamH said...

You want to turn our leaders over for trial at the Hague?

And you would insure that they get a fair trial...how?

Just remember, you start that game and the next party in power will do the same to the prededing loser.

Obama, for example, is already backing out of his statements about getting out of Iraq.

Who ya kiddin, sport?

Anonymous said...

I think it is illegal to help friends hack a computer.

Even good looking ones.