Bush Pardons Small-Time Meth Dealer
Four Days Before Christmas, President Pardons 16 People
By JASON RYAN
Bush Pardons Small-Time Meth Dealer
Four Days Before Christmas, President Pardons 16 People
By JASON RYAN
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2006 — - Four days before Christmas, President Bush granted pardons to 16 people, including a man convicted of dealing methamphetamine and another who, along with his family, donated to the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
Of the 16 pardons, six were for people convicted of minor drug violations, six were for people convicted of making false statements on bank or money loans. The other pardons involved a conspiracy case to defraud the government, a false statement case, a kickback conviction and an alcohol tax violation charge dating to 1969.
Including the 16 pardons today, Bush has issued 113 pardons and three clemency requests during his presidency.
Phillip Anthony Emmert, the only one of the 16 pardoned today who is currently in jail, was convicted of distributing methamphetamine but will have that sentence commuted.
The other 15 will have their records expunged and have certain rights restored, such as the right to vote.
Presidential pardons have drawn renewed scrutiny since President Clinton pardoned financier Marc Rich in 2001. Rich had fled the United States in 1983 to avoid prosecution by the government on tax-evasion charges.
Outrage over the case came to light when it was revealed that his wife, Denise Rich, had contributed money to the Democratic National Committee and Clinton's presidential library.
[...]
Campaign Contributor Pardoned
According to a Federal Election Commission record search conducted by ABC News, one of the 16 people in the presidential pardons announced today by the Justice Department has donated money to the Republican National Committee and the Bush campaign.
Dale C. Critz Jr. was convicted in 1989 of making false statements in a case. He never served time but was given three years probation for his offense.
He and members of his immediate family have made donations to Republican candidates and the RNC. On April 7, 2003, Critz donated $500 to the RNC and on Sept. 30, 2003, his father, Dale C. Critz, donated $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign.
"The Department of Justice conducts a thorough review of each clemency case but does not consider campaign contributions relevant to the analysis," Justice Department spokeswoman Kathleen Blomquist said.
Calls by ABC News to Critz and his lawyer, John Hogan of Miami, were not returned Thursday.
[...]
Showing posts with label Cronyism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cronyism. Show all posts
Friday, December 22, 2006
Monday, December 4, 2006
UPDATED - BREAKING NEWS: BOLTON RESIGNS
BREAKING NEWS: BOLTON RESIGNS The previous story
Addition
Related
'JINSA John' Bolton worked hard shielding Israel
Israeli Ambassador calls Bolton ‘Israel’s secret weapon’
Bolton in extraordinary outburst against United Nations
John Bolton: Dead Lebanese worth less than dead Israelis
John Bolton, Israel's Man at the UN
Well, goodbye to a major Palestinian adversary, and come to think of it, an enemy of Real America, if not the whole world..
Yet, we may still have a problem on our hands.
Joe Lieberman might be the next Ambassador to the U.N. Imagine that. The fellow who traipsed the world during the 4 years immediately preceding the Iraq war with John McCain selling Shock and Awe.
A warhawk, neocon, Zionist through and through.
Palestinians and world beware.
BREAKING NEWS: BOLTON RESIGNS
Bush Man At UN Resigns
Updated: 14:46, Monday December 04, 2006
John Bolton, President Bush's controversial appointment as US ambassador to the United Nations, has resigned.
His position had been under threat since the Democrats took control of Congress in the US midterm elections.
Mr Bush had braved political opposition to give him him the job temporarily in August last year.
His confirmation has been languishing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ever since.
The no-nonsense Bush ally was opposed by Democrats and some Republicans.
The White House has now announced that Mr Bolton would leave office in a matter of days.
Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Mr Bush had reluctantly accepted Mr Bolton's decision to leave the UN post when the current session of the US Congress ends, probably at the end of the week.
Sky correspondent Andrew Wilson said that independent Senator Dan [?] Lieberman was a possible replacement. The former Democrat could be an acceptable compromise candidate.
More follows ...
Video: Bolton Steps Down
UPDATED - BREAKING NEWS: BOLTON RESIGNS: Background and commentary added
Updated: 14:46, Monday December 04, 2006
John Bolton, President Bush's controversial appointment as US ambassador to the United Nations, has resigned.
His position had been under threat since the Democrats took control of Congress in the US midterm elections.
Mr Bush had braved political opposition to give him him the job temporarily in August last year.
His confirmation has been languishing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ever since.
The no-nonsense Bush ally was opposed by Democrats and some Republicans.
The White House has now announced that Mr Bolton would leave office in a matter of days.
Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Mr Bush had reluctantly accepted Mr Bolton's decision to leave the UN post when the current session of the US Congress ends, probably at the end of the week.
Sky correspondent Andrew Wilson said that independent Senator Dan [?] Lieberman was a possible replacement. The former Democrat could be an acceptable compromise candidate.
More follows ...
Video: Bolton Steps Down
UPDATED - BREAKING NEWS: BOLTON RESIGNS: Background and commentary added
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)