Bush could issue pardons in last hours of his term

[babylonsister]

Bush could issue pardons in last hours of his term

1 day ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The outgoing US administration indicated Thursday that President George W. Bush could issue pardons in the last hours of his term.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino did not hold out the possibility that Bush could issue pardons up through January 20, the day his successor, Democrat Barack Obama, will be sworn in as the 44th president.

"I don't anticipate that you'll have any, necessarily, on the 20th, but I can't say that for sure because a president always holds that power and that right up until the time that they're no longer president," Perino said.

"So I'm not going to restrain him and that power in any way."

It is customary for US presidents to issue numerous last-minute pardons in the waning weeks of their tenure. Such clemency measures would be one of the last major decisions Bush, a Republican, would make, given the current political climate.

Bush has granted 190 pardons and commuted 9 prison terms so far during his eight years as president. Most of those pardoned had been convicted on a variety of relatively minor crimes, including drug or firearm offenses, mail fraud and counterfeiting.

more...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h3CPLepFmI8gpdAtfL1RHnIgERlQ

[Taverner]

1. Pardon Leonard Peltier!

Honestly - if Bush pardoned him I would have a completely different opinion of him

Seriously

And it would be a better one...

[Goblinmonger]

2. Don't hold your breath; though I agree with you.

I really hope Obama pardons him on his way out. Or sooner. That is such a travesty of justice.

[Taverner]

3. Exactly

I usually don't side with cop killers

I NEVER supported Mumia

As eloquent as he was, he killed that cop

But Peltier is a different case altogether

He is 100% innocent

Philly in the 80's/90's is not the Indian Res's during the 60's

[RB TexLa]

4. Edwin Edwards deserves one. More than a couple of prominent republicans have even lobbied him for

it personally.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Change the time on the clocks in the WH. There probably is a central control like in schools.

Or lock the doors to the WH now so he can't get back in when he leaves.