Murkowski Asks Bush To Pardon Stevens

[Beaverhausen]

Source: CBS News

January 18, 2009, 6:41 PM

Murkowski Asks Bush To Pardon Stevens

CBS News has confirmed that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has asked President Bush to pardon Ted Stevens, the former Alaska senator from charged with several felony counts by a federal jury in 2008.

Murkowski’s spokesperson, Mike Brumas spoke to CBS News' Ryan Corsaro by phone, saying that Sen. Murkowski had made the request to President Bush, but would not give details.

“It's a sensitive time right now,” said Brumas after confirming the pardon had been requested. Murkowski does not have an announcement scheduled for tomorrow.

A spokesperson from the White House could not be immediately reached for comment.

Before losing his seat in the last election, Stevens had served as a senator from Alaska since 1968. Last October, he was found guilty on seven counts of failing to reports gifts. After trying to contest his seat following a slim loss to Democrat Mark Begich, Stevens conceded the race in mid-November.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/18/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4733722.shtml

[skyounkin]

1. LMAO

Forget about that whole "committing a crime" and shit.

They have no shame.

He needs to go.

NOW.

[roguevalley]

29. Princess Lisa was appointed by her dad to his seat because

apparently she was the only qualified person around at the time. She is a sow and a criminal and I want her gone in the next election. I loathe her.

[Solly Mack]

2. I like when they talk about all those years of public service

prior to - getting caught.

They want you to think in terms of dedication, devotion, selfless service...as if they just got up one morning and turned corrupt...right at the end...just before getting caught.

When all I hear is, years and years of being corrupt, of using the office for personal gain through bribes and influence peddling

[L. Coyote]

9. Forty years of stealing money from the taxpayers is NOT a Public Service!

I hope Bush does pardon Stevens, to cement his legacy as the Supreme Leader of the Corrupt Bastards Club.

[Solly Mack]

11. It sure isn't

but that's what they play to...

[uppityperson]

3. Gee, what a non-surprise.eom

[RyanClark]

4. Re: Murkowski Asks Bush To Pardon Stevens

I wouldn't be surprised if he did, as a final "f*** you" to America.

[SpartanDem]

5. what a

perfect way to end this mess one criminal asshole pardoning another.

[vadawg]

6. probuably gonna die in jail otherwise

hes already disgraced and had his ass handed to him in the election, i say pardon the old fool.

[Rebellious Republican]

8. Not good enough, let his ass rot in jail, and as a side note......

Try out the check spelling button, lower left hand corner. Kinda makes you look like a freeper, ya know, defending this GOP criminal and not being able to spell, really.

:eyes:

[Inuca]

12. I agree, he deserves a pardon

Pardons are for GUILTY people. In the grand order of things, his sins are relatively minor. Also, compared to other major assholes in the Senate and elesewhere, he was not THAT bad. I think this is one case where a pardon is well deserved, and I hope he gets it. I am not for kicking people that are already down.

[bvar22]

14. If Stevens deserves a pardon....

...then so does every other Non-Rich person his age serving time for a non-violent offense.

Many non-rich people are doing hard time for stealing much less than Stevens stole.

Equal Protection and Equal Rights for ALL!,,,,no exceptions.

[NoGOPZone]

28. Die in jail. Is that meant to be an argument AGAINST incarceration? nt

[williesgirl]

7. If he does, it'll be one more example of why the rich and famous/connected have one type justice

and the rest of us go to jail when convicted of a crime. Of course, I expect Bush will do this, being a criminal himself. This Alaska Senator should be made to pay at the ballot box for this request. rec'd

[Arkana]

13. Stevens will die--if on the off-chance he goes to jail.

However, since the rich and famous have "rich and famous justice", he'll get a slap on the wrist and a "don't ever do that again, you naughty boy."

[bigworld]

10. Bush won't do it

He's too concerned about his legacy (or whatever is left of it). He's also never been particularly forgiving. I don;t see it happening.

[BlueJessamine]

15. Alaska senator asks Bush to pardon Stevens

Source: KFQD 750 - AP News

A spokesman for Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the Alaska Republican has asked President Bush to pardon former Sen. Ted Stevens. Spokesman Mike Brumas says Murkowski made an official request earlier this month with the outgoing president to pardon Stevens. Stevens -- the longest serving Republican in the Senate – was defeated for re-election following his October conviction on corruption charges. Brumas says he can't provide further details about Murkowski's request.



Read more: http://www.kfqd.com/node/4704

---

Via USA Today:

President Bush has one day to issue any last minute pardons or commutations.

The Politico has a list of 10 potential recipients of executive clemency, including the anonymous interrogators who questioned terror suspects and some of the well-known officials who got caught up in criminal investigations.

The paper is giving 1 to 1 odds that Alberto Gonzales, the former attorney general, will receive a pardon for any wrongdoing associated with the removal of nine federal prosecutors. The odds that Scooter Libby, a former top aide to Vice President Cheney who received a commutation after he was convicted of lying about the disclosure of a covert CIA operative's name, are running 1 to 2, according to the paper.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17595.html

[Optical.Catalyst]

16. What ever it is Lisa Murkowski is smoking, I want some of that.

[NV Whino]

17. I wouldn't be surprised to see Stevens pardoned

I don't think he would waste time on Libby. He has already commuted his sentence. Probably CIA and interrogators in a blanket pardon. I'm betting against Gonzalez. He was always the Judas goat. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

There will be some other low-profile people. But the main question is will he do blanket pardons for most of his administration--Cheney et al? (Gonzalez could fit in here.)

[Bette Noir]

18. We need a constitutional amendment

to limit the President's ability to grant pardons. That the man has the ability to pardon people for crimes committed for his own benefit... We might as well have Don Corleone running the country.

[marew]

20. You are absolutely right!

[scytherius]

19. Commute it

He's old, he'll die soon, don't want him to hold office again so keep the felony. Why spend another dime of federal money on this moron by incarcerating him? He's certainly no danger to do anything. Just let him live in Alaska and die. Fine the hell out of him. Something.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mitchum]

22. Hell no

[otohara]

23. Murkowski Asks Bush To Pardon Stevens

Source: CBS News

CBS News has confirmed that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has asked President Bush to pardon Ted Stevens, the former Alaska senator from charged with several felony counts by a federal jury in 2008.

Murkowski’s spokesperson, Mike Brumas spoke to CBS News' Ryan Corsaro by phone, saying that Sen. Murkowski had made the request to President Bush, but would not give details.

“It's a sensitive time right now,” said Brumas after confirming the pardon had been requested. Murkowski does not have an announcement scheduled for tomorrow.

A spokesperson from the White House could not be immediately reached for comment.

Before losing his seat in the last election, Stevens had served as a senator from Alaska since 1968. Last October, he was found guilty on seven counts of failing to reports gifts. After trying to contest his seat following a slim loss to Democrat Mark Begich, Stevens conceded the race in mid-November.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/18/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4733722.shtml

[No Elephants]

24. Justice Department Guidelines say five years after conviction. Time flies, huh?

[BrklynLiberal]

25. uh-oh. It's starting.

[shanti]

26. yes, this is the day

it's going to get interesting!

[not fooled]

27. Can't wait to listen to Mike Malloy tonight...

...for a recap and analysis (as only Mike can do) of the day's pardons.