Still no word on further pardons from Bush, but speculation is so rampant that Politico has issued odds. My money is that there will be some pardons or commutations, but your guess is as good as mine. I'm wondering why there hasn't been any mention of pardons for Rumsfeld or Cheney, since it has been established that they did authorize torture . . .
UPDATE: Bush issued two commutations yesterday afternoon (see below), with a White House official saying that no further pardons would be forthcoming. Nevertheless, there's still less than 6 hours to go . . .
1. Pardon Prospects: Military and CIA interrogators of war-on-terror prisoners
There have been recent signs that people could face investigation and prosecution (either by Congress or Holder's DOJ) for use of harsh tactics in post-9/11 interrogations. Likely to require a “blanket” pardon which describes conduct, but does not name individuals-- but legal experts downplay the possibly of last-minute, surprise, blanket pardons for war crimes. Odds: 4 to 1
2. Pardon Prospect: Darth Cheney's former Chief of Staff “Scooter” Libby
Convicted in 2007 of obstruction of justice, false statements, and perjury in investigation into leak of identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame. 30-month prison sentence already commuted by Bush, was also fined $250,000 and disbarred. Bush risks public outcry for leaving full pardon for final days of presidency when it could have been done sooner. Odds: 1 to 2
3. Pardon Prospect: Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Still unemployed after leaving office under a cloud. Being investigated for misleading Congress and interfering with inquiries into the firings of U.S. attorneys. He’s also being investigated for preparing false after-the-fact notes of 2004 congressional briefing about warrantless surveillance. Odds: 1 to 1.
4. Pardon Prospects: Former American Israel Public Affairs Committee Lobbyists Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, Former Pentagon Analyst Lawrence Franklin
Franklin pled guilty in 2005 to passing national secrets to Rosen and Weissman; also admitted to passing secrets to Israeli officials; Rosen and Weissman pled not guilty to conspiring to obtain and distribute classified information; trial set for April 2009. Pardons would please Jewish activists, but undercut Bush's anti-leak campaign. Odds: Rosen/Weissman, 10 to 1; Franklin: 20 to 1
5. Pardon Prospect: Former Justice Department official Bradley Schlozman
Former Bushie who is widely known to have chased career lawyers out of the Civil Rights Division and replaced them with politically-vetted GOP supporters-- and then lied to Congress about it. Odds: 4 to 1
6. Pardon prospect: Former junk bond king Michael Milken
Pled guilty in 1990 to six tax and securities-related felonies and served 22 months on a 10-year sentence. Out of prison for 16 years, he has engaged in extensive philanthropy since then. Odds: 2 to 1
7. Commutation Prospects: Former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean
Convicted in 2006 of shooting fleeing drug smuggling suspect who was illegal alien; Compean sentenced to 12 years in prison; Ramos to 11 years. Crusade for clemency led by CNN anchor Lou Dobbs and supported by conservative lawmakers. Odds: 3 to 1
NOTE FROM THE DUDE: BUSH ISSUED THIS COMMUTATION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
8. Commutation Prospect: Former Governor George Ryan (R-Ill.)
Convicted in 2006 of corruption charges; serving six-and-a-half year prison sentence; set for release in 2013. 74-year-old Ryan has a wife in ill health, but has served only about a year of his sentence. Odds: 4 to 1
9. Commutation Prospect: Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard
Pled guilty to espionage in 1986; sentenced to life in prison without parole. Commutation would please Israel and Jewish groups, but strongly opposed by defense and intelligence communities. Odds: 20 to 1
10. Commutation Prospect: Randall “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.)
Pled guilty in 2005 to conspiracy and tax evasion as part of $2.4 million bribery scheme; sentenced to eight years four months. Suffering from prostate cancer at the age of 67, Bush once publicly called Cunningham’s scheme “outrageous”. Odds: 50 to 1
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