President George W. Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others, The Associated Press learned Monday.
The new round of White House pardons are Bush’s first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list include drug offenses, income tax evasion, bank embezzlement and violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Bush has been stingy during his time in office about handing out such reprieves.
Including these actions, he has granted a total of 171 and eight commutations. That’s less than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their time in office. Both were two-term presidents.
On the latest pardon list were:
Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo.
Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D.
Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill.
Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas.
Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va.
Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga.
Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C.
Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla.
William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas.
Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla.
Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala.
Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles.
Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas.
Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark.
Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit.
Under the Constitution, the president’s power to issue pardons is absolute and cannot be overruled.
Some high-profile individuals, such as Michael Milken, are seeking a pardon on securities fraud charges. Two politicians convicted of public corruption — former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif., and four-term Democratic Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards — are asking Bush to shorten their prison terms.
One hot topic of discussion related to pardons is whether Bush might decide to issue pre-emptive pardons before he leaves office to government employees who authorized or engaged in harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Some constitutional scholars and human rights groups want the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to investigate possible war crimes.
If Bush were to pardon anyone involved, it would provide protection against criminal charges, particularly for people who were following orders or trying to protect the nation with their actions. But it would also be highly controversial.
At the same time, Obama advisers say there is little — if any — chance that his administration would bring criminal charges.
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21 Responses
Nu, and what about Pollard???
Call and tell him! if we get enough guys calling he will pardon him, BE”H
President Bush: Why Not Jonathan Pollard?
Call Up The White House Tommorow! Tell President Bush to free Jonathan Pollard!
Phone Number: 1-202-456-1111
Things to Do So Jonathan Pollard is released from Prison after serving over 20+ years and a lifetime sentence still to come.
1. Pour out your heart to the Ribono Shel Olam that Jonathan Pollard should be released from prison! This includes saying Tehillim for him, in your Shmoneh Esrei, etc.
2. Call the White House. Say Pollard to be released now! #1-202-456-1111
3.Send Faxes To The White House
4. Mail to the White House
5. Call Up the Knesset for Olmert that peice of dirt and tell him to convince Bush to pardon Pollard.
6. Anthing Else You can think of… That Would Be a Great Mitzva if you can do the above
By The Way Mass Murderers Were released from Prison BUT Jonathan Pollard who is not a murderer is not. He just spied for the Good of Israel and AMERICA.
There are great stories about Jonathan Pollard. He is a great Jew with Tons of Yiras Shemayim.
Free Jonathan Pollard!
דברים לעשות אז הוא ג ‘ונתן פולארד ישוחרר מהכלא לאחר ששירת מעל 20 + שנים, עדיין בחיים משפט רבות.
1. לצקת את ליבו של עולם Ribono Shel כי יונתן פולארד צריך לשחרר אותו מהכלא! זה כולל Tehillim אומר לו, Shmoneh Esrei שלך, וכו ‘
2. תקראו את הבית הלבן. תגיד פולארד כדי לשחרר אותו עכשיו! # 1-202-456-1111
3.Send פקסים של הבית הלבן
4. דואר של הבית הלבן
5. הזעקה של הכנסת כי אולמרט חתיכת לכלוך, ולהגיד לו לשכנע את בוש פולארד חנינה.
6. Anthing עוד תוכל לחשוב על … זה יהיה גדול מצווה אם אתה יכול לעשות את לעיל
PARDON SHOLOM RUBASHKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! A frum Yid and his family are suffering. Pidyon shevuim is even when the prisoner did something wrong! Rachmonim bnei rachmonim!!
A presidential pardon can take effect at anytime of the process, even before being convicted and even before being formally charged. PARDON RUBASHKIN!!
#13. Pollard hasn’t expressed regret??Is this true?? Why would someone need a Pardon or Clemency if it was “long after completion of the sentence”??
#12
Whys should Rubashkin be pardoned?? for a Chillul Hashem?? For Unfair Prosecution?? Has there been any remorse or regret?? Has Teshuva been done? Mechila?? Was there restitution? To the people he “allegedly” didn’t pay overtime to?? Did he say he was sorry?? Or is there a just a denial of allegations?? And people (like on YWNews) claiming it is Anti-Semitism.
Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof…Hashem Should Help…
askonim from all walks of communal life have been diligently working together in unprecedented cooperation – and using every available angle to free Jonathan Pollard. Now is your chance to stand up for the silent suffering and make a difference!!
A nationwide grass roots effort on behalf of Jonathan Pollard was officially launched today. People are encouraged to click freepollardnow.com to join the effort to help set Jonathan Pollard free.
Dear President Bush,
As the holder of the highest office and position in the world, you have a unique one-time opportunity to continue your legacy as the only United States President who was a true friend and supporter of Israel and the Jews.
During the past 8 years, we as Jews have been blessed with a President who truly cared for us and sought our good.
We now ask that you please pardon Jonathan Pollard – it is only within your ability to do so. Unfortunately, the next administration will likely not be so favorable to the Jews.
No one is denying that Mr. Pollard acted wrongly. The United States has been the ally of Israel since her birth in 1948, and no individual has the right to abuse that friendship by divulging federal secrets. (Just as no wife or husband has the moral right to reveal private matters about his or her spouse to a third party.)
But as an native Israeli who has been living in the great United States for over 30 years, I can assure you Mr. President that the State of Israel will under no circumstance use any information in any way against the United States.
I ask you President Bush to please pardon Jonathan Pollard. 23 years of prison should suffice for his crime, and will surely deter any such subsequent act by anyone.
Thank you very much, and again, we as Jews tremendously appreciate what you have done for us during your glorious administration.
I have no problem with Pollard getting a pardon.
BUT we all must keep this in mind.
Jonathan Pollard is an American citizen who was convicted of selling vasts of amounts of highly sensitive, highly classified, national-security related documents to a foreign nation–THIS IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE AND UNDERMINES THE WELL_BEING OF THE UNITED STATES (his and OUR cititzenship)
The one thing non-Jews think when they hear “Free Pollard” is “all those Jews think of only themselves”. John Pollard committed a very serious and dangerous crime against his country.
Perhaps Pollard’s sentence was trumped up, and his punishment is unjust, But we as common Americans aren’t privy to the workings of the intelligence agencies, and we’ll never know EXACTLY what and how much and how damaging his crime was, do not fully understand why the US has imprisoned him for so long.
We all say that similar crimes of his stature received lighter punishments. Jonathan’s crime was done for very fundamental reasons that he believed deeply in his heart. The security of the United States is dependent on people with his access to national secrets being able to keep ideologies and personal beliefs out of his judgments. Very often, people start spying for financial reasons–not the case (at least in the beginning) with Pollard.
We also all say that he only passed secrets to Israel, a friendly country. What damage can be done?–it’s not like Israel would attack the USA or sell the info to the Arabs. Traitors like Aldrich Amos should be hung for treason. Unfortunatly, Jonathan Pollard may be an example of what happens when you break the trust of the American people. American Jews still need to prove to the American people that we are Americans first.
Should we seek clemency for John Pollard? Sure. But should we attempt to minimize the damage that was done to American national security and act as if “Free Jonathan Pollard” is the biggest issue facing American Jews? No.
#13 the Rosenbergs we convicted of spying for the Soviets (not a friend) and giving info about the atomic bomb.
Whats the FAX # of the White House ???????????????????????
Contacting the White House
Mailing Address
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
E-Mail
Please send your comments to [email protected]. Due to the large volume of e-mail received, the White House cannot respond to every message. For further up-to-date information on Presidential initiatives, current events, and topics of interest to you, please continue to use the White House website.
Note: Please submit messages in text format only. This inbox is unable to receive e-mails that contain graphics or attachments. After it arrives, you will receive an e-mail confirmation indicating successful delivery.
Vice President Richard Cheney: [email protected]
Abramoff.
To C. Hall #13,
Apologize to #3 -you must be getting senile.
You already agreed with me that he deserves a new trial. So it’s “alleged” because he hasn’t had a trial to convict him yet. Innocent until proven guilty. Because of this- he should be pardoned.
If you don’t remember our legal discussion -look it up on YWN previous articles.
I posted a letter that I sent to the White House on the other later YWN article.
#13 & #24:
If you check, the posting you are referring to is #2, not #3.
To #25,
Now he has to apologize to #2 & #3.