WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Bush Tuesday granted pardons to 19 citizens, none of them prominent, charged with a variety of crimes.
Presidential pardon lists are being closely monitored in the final weeks of the Bush administration, to see whether former Vice Presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby will be granted the presidential favor.
One of the men pardoned is Charles Winters, who died nearly 25 years ago. His son had worked on winning a presidential pardon for his dad who had helped smuggle weapons to Jews fighting in what was then Palestine in the late 1940's. A protestant from Boston, Winters spent 18 months behind bars - the only U.S. citizen to serve time for helping fly weapons to Jews struggling to create Israel.
A 20th person received a commutation of a life sentence for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. That individual, Reed Raymond Prior, was ordered released from prison in February 2009. He will have served more than 12 years.
President Bush has granted 191 pardons and nine commutations, far fewer than Presidents Clinton and Reagan in their two-term administrations.
From CNN Politics
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Can he pardon himself?
Yes he already signed signing statement pardons for himself and others.
Blah blah blah war crimes. You dont even know what constitutes a war crime
Can he pardon himself?
Only if he burps.
From what? was he convicted of a crime that hasn't been reported?
What should he pardon himself for? Not getting the popular vote? I'm sick of you Bush bashers!
Well, I think he will do a much better job of granting pardons than Clinton the race-baiter did. Besides, all the low-life's are out on the street now thanks to Bill.
@spudmctater
Yes he can. And anyone in his administration, for crimes he/they may be charged with in the future. Nice, huh?
President George W. Bush.., why don't you 'pardon' yourself and leave the White House.., as fast as you can. Rent a large U-Haul truck, pack and please go (drive) to Dallas, Houston or Crawford, Texas. Do us 'all' a favor. Just leave.. Mike in Montana
Pardon the shoe thrower!!!!
Not even close!
That's nothing, Obama's already got Ayers on his list.
And soon the Bush bashing freaks will be on here (much like the clueless spudmctater), throwing up their anti-Bush drivel. Too bad Bush won't pardon husbands of women he either had an affair with or wants to, like Bill Clinton. Maybe he can pardon all you kook lib freaks, who can't take a clue even when it's handed to you.
Does make you wonder what Barry's list is gonna look like when he's wrapping up his fluke stint in office 4 years from now.
How touching ... Pardons from the biggest criminal to occupy the Oval Office ... And the rest of his crooked administration, too, including his intolerable spokesliar, Dana Perino.
Is Dick Cheney at the head of the list of pardons ( followed by W )????
It's pathetic that Scooter Libby is pardoned, but Ramos & Compean continue to sit in prison. Bush is the worst president ever.
I bet he didn't pardon the 2 Border Patrol guys! Bush sucks, can't wait for January 20th!
War crime?
Has anybody actually read the Geneva Conventions?
If I am not mistaken, george w, cheney, rumsfeld, rice and others have to be charge with war crimes before there can be any pardons.
Scooter isn't pardoned yet. Pay attention to the words when you read the article..... On another note, why did Reed Raymond Prior get pardoned???
And the president most definitely should be charged with war crimes, he has the blood of 4200 of our US soliders and untold innocent Iraqi people on his hands.
Pardon Ramos and Compean the border guards who are political prisoners jailed by the lets hire illegals lobby.
I thougtht that he didn't pardon Scooter Libby. I am pretty sure that has not happened yet. I hate Bush, but I think people should get their facts straight before the bashing begins.
By the way, I am looking forward to January 20th too!!!
And the Bush bashers never cease to disappoint, vibrantly showing their stupidity and willingness to believe whatever baseless lies they scrounge up in their chat rooms. I especially like the idiot who called him the worst president ever. A) No, Barrack's gonna get that title by the end of the next 4 years. B) Check your tin foil hat, it's a little loose.
And to Glenn in California – Scooter Libby was not pardoned. Either learn to read, or find someone more trustworthy to read to you.
Glenn in California, don't read much, do ya? Scooter didn't get pardoned.
I didn't hear these complaints when Clinton pardoned over 1000 criminals.
I bet he'll have Dick Cheney on that list.
Good point from someone earlier , how about those two border patrol guards getting a pardon seeing as they were just doing their job!!!