Criminals Seek Pardons from the President

A president can grant a pardon or commutation at any time during his or her term of office, but the topic usually becomes more urgent in the waning days of an administration. 

Very Few Pardon/Commutations Are Granted

According to U.S. Justice Department, 103 convicted felons applied for a pardon and 280 applied for a commutation in November alone. During the Bush administration to date, 2,064 pardon applications were received — the president has granted 157 — and 7,707 commutation requests were made; only six were granted. 

Famous and Not-So-Famous Convicts

Among the thousands of individuals who are seeking President Bush's beneficence are: 

• former U.S. Congressman Rep. Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., convicted of accepting bribes
• four-term Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, convicted of public corruption
• Michael Milken, the "junk bond king" convicted of securities-related felonies 

However, the vast majority of people seeking commutation (shortening of their sentence) or a pardon (an official statement of "forgiveness") are not well-known individuals. They're simply seeking the president's clemency so that they can resume their normal lives. 

The Pardon/Commutation Process

The process for getting a pardon or commutation begins in the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney. The petitioner's case is reviewed by the FBI, and prosecutors contribute their opinion regarding the appropriateness of a pardon/commutation. A petition may then move up to through the Justice Department and then to the White House counsel's office, and on to the President. 

(Source: UPI) 

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