President Bush Issues 14 Pardons, 2 Commutations

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 06:06:00 PM EST
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President Bush pardoned 14 individuals and commuted 2 sentences sentences today. The press release with list of names and offenses is here.

The commutations are for two drug traffickers who got big sentences they are currently serving:

John Edward Forte -North Brunswick, N.J.
Offense: Aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), 18 U.S.C. Section 2.
Sentence:Nov. 20, 2001; Southern District of Texas; 168 months in prison, five years' supervised release and a $5,000 fine.
Terms of commutation: Sentence of imprisonment to expire on Dec. 22, 2008, leaving intact and in effect the five year term of supervised release with all its conditions.

[More...]

James Russell Harris -Detroit, Mich.
Offense: Conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. Section 846; attempted money laundering, 18 U.S.C. Section 1956(a)(3) and 2; aiding and abetting the attempted distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1); conspiracy to affect interstate commerce by obtaining property under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. Section 1951; attempt to affect interstate commerce by obtaining property under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. Section 1951.
Sentence:May 10, 1993; Eastern District of Michigan; 360 months in prison, five years' supervised release and a $50,000 fine.
Terms of clemency grant: Unpaid balance of fine remitted; sentence of imprisonment commuted to expire on Dec. 22, 2008, leaving intact and in effect the five year term of supervised release with all its conditions save the obligation to satisfy the unpaid balance of the fine.

Most of the pardons are for small crimes and offenders who got probation or light sentences a long time ago. Most of those on the list are from the South.

All of Bush's pardons through March, 2008 are listed here. For prior Presidents, go here.

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President Bush Issues 14 Pardons, 2 Commutations | 20 comments (20 topical)

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My husband just got home (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Militarytracy on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 07:01:06 PM EST

and I read all of these to him. He said that it is strange what a soft spot Dubya has for some offenses and now he's singing the Sesame Street song about how some of these convicted have something in common, some of these convicted are kinda the same.

: I wonder why..... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Radiowalla on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 07:54:55 PM EST

Let me think...Could it be?...

Wondering (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Lil on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 08:14:21 PM EST

about what this means to you: "Most of those on the list are from the South."

He has almost 60 days left (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Peter G on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 09:15:51 PM EST

Here's hoping for many, many more. This President is way behind even the recent paltry numbers of clemency grants that have become typical in recent administrations, and hundreds and hundreds behind what was considered normal until just 25 years ago, even though the numbers of federal prisoners has skyrocketed.

Scooter, Gonzalez, and Cheny (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Saul on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 07:55:41 AM EST

will probably get preemptive pardons. Just to be sure they are not prosecuted by the Obama administration. Can't have anyone out here that can sing against you after you left the white house.

Clinton Rules? (none / 0) (#4)
by Sweet Sue on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 08:17:37 PM EST

And, what do you bet, not one of them gets one-one-hunderth of the attention of the Mark Rich pardon?
What'd I Say?

Point out which ones deserve (none / 0) (#15)
by Wile ECoyote on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 05:56:44 AM EST

one-one-hundredth of the attention of the Marc Rich pardon.


Caspar Weinberger (none / 0) (#17)
by cal1942 on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 10:55:06 AM EST

When old man Bush pardoned Casper and six others involved in Iran-Contra the media did report that fact but seldom mentioned the subject beyond a couple of news cycles.

Certainly the HW Bush pardons were not discussed interminably as with the Rich pardon.

Dole even suggested that Clinton be impeached again after the Rich pardon. Nice distraction from the still fresh in the public mind theft of Florida's electoral votes.

I read a brief article this AM about the most recent pardons. That brief article's concluding paragraph told the bare bones story of the Rich pardons. In 2001 there were no routine mentions in stories about the Clinton pardons of the perfidious nature of the HW Bush pardons from 8 years before, but now 8 years after we're remined of the Rich pardon.

Clinton Derangement Syndrome and the favorites of the Village still reign.


Which Bush (none / 0) (#18)
by Wile ECoyote on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 03:54:19 PM EST

are you talking about? You need to read the posts.


: You missed (none / 0) (#19)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 28, 2008 at 09:31:03 PM EST

the point.

In a few months we will learn much (none / 0) (#20)
by hairspray on Tue Dec 02, 2008 at 04:44:43 PM EST

more about why Marc Rich was pardoned and it will have nothing to do with the Clinton library and everything to do with the Israeli=Palestinian peace process. Even Joe Conasen hinted as much in his recent Salon.com piece "Clinton Haters, get over it."


I Googled this guy... (none / 0) (#5)
by Plutonium Page on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 09:04:50 PM EST

... and couldn't figure out exactly what he did.

* Daniel Figh Pue III - Conroe, Texas
Offense: Illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit, 42 U.S.C. Section 6928(d)(2)(A); illegal transportation of a hazardous waste to an unpermitted facility for storage or disposal, 42 U.S.C. Section 6928(d)(1).
Sentence:Oct. 25, 1996; Southern District of Texas; three years' probation conditioned on six months' home confinement and a $1,000 fine.

What did he do, specifically? Which industry, etc.?

I'm guessing maybe the oil industry.

And, I just answered my own question. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Plutonium Page on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 09:13:47 PM EST

Duh.

Nasty.

Daniel Figh Pue III, former superintendent of production at Conroe Creosoting Co., in 1996 pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally transporting and dumping more than 1,500 gallons of hazardous creosote sludge in a ditch.

Lots and lots of toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, lingering stuff in that.


: Great Metaphor (5.00 / 3) (#14)
by squeaky on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 01:13:38 AM EST

Lots and lots of toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, lingering stuff in that.

For the last 8 years.

You know Bush (none / 0) (#8)
by lilburro on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 10:16:25 PM EST

was born to pardon.

I can only imagine the "meetings" that go on where he decides to pardon X or Y.

: Er, as governor (5.00 / 5) (#11)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 12:02:01 AM EST

he was born to execute without bothering to read the background story.

I noticed the geographic similarities also (none / 0) (#9)
by Rick B on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 10:36:20 PM EST

But I don't know what it means.

I'm wondering what the other similarities are and what they all mean.

Oops (none / 0) (#10)
by Sweet Sue on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 11:18:52 PM EST

Geez, meant one one hundreth. Too much wine.

: You too eh... (none / 0) (#13)
by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 12:27:51 AM EST

Compare (none / 0) (#12)
by Rashomon66 on Tue Nov 25, 2008 at 12:18:20 AM EST

Clinton pardoned over 200 combined in December 2000 and January 2001. Curious to see what heavy hitters Bush pardons over the next two months.