When Asking doesn’t get it, should we Beg Bush’s Pardon?
With President George W. Bush’s term coming to an end in only a few months, one question that has been asked is if Bush will grant any presidential pardons on his way out the door. Many suggest that Bush has seemingly been unaware that the power to pardon exists citing the fact that he has become nothing more than a rubber stamp for declining the petitions.
Bush has already denied more pardon and clemency petitions than any president in history. During his tenure in office, he has rejected 5,966 requests, nearly twice as many as Bill Clinton did in eight years, five times more than his father did in four years, and almost five times as many as Ronald Reagan did in eight years. Furthermore, according to the United States Pardon Attorney’s official reports, there is an enormous backlog of clemency petitions, a total of 2,501 requests “pending” as of January 2008.
To Pardon or not to Pardon
Generously granting pardons has certainly not been a problem of George W. Bush either. During his first seven years of office, he has granted only 142 pardons, four commutations and one remission. This equates to more than 40 requests denied for every one granted. In comparison, President Clinton granted one in every seven requests.
Big Names Asking for Relief
Among some of the more notable convicts that are currently asking Bush for a pardon include John Walker Lindh, the American linked to the Taliban. Other petitioners include Randy Cunningham, the former Republican congressman of California; Edwin Edwards, the former Democratic governor of Louisiana; and Marion Jones, the former disgraced Olympic sprinter. Bush has until the day before he leaves office in January 2009 to decide these pending petitions.
Outspoken Critics
Former United States pardon attorney Margaret Love expressed her displeasure with the Bush Administration’s lack of organizational effort in reducing the amount of pending petitions. “My experience is that anybody who gets their name in the paper before the President acts is unlikely to be pardoned,” said Love. “It tends to be discouraging.”
September 4th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Bush has already denied more pardon and clemency petitions than any president in history. During his tenure in office, he has rejected 5,966 requests, nearly twice as many as Bill Clinton did in eight years, five times more than his father did in four years, and almost five times as many as Ronald Reagan did in eight years. Furthermore, according to the United States Pardon Attorney’s official reports, there is an enormous backlog of clemency petitions, a total of 2,501 requests “pending” as of January 2008.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Generously granting pardons has certainly not been a problem of George W. Bush either. During his first seven years of office, he has granted only 142 pardons, four commutations and one remission. This equates to more than 40 requests denied for every one granted. In comparison, President Clinton granted one in every seven requests.