A 10-YEAR TRIAL: Siegelman’s pardon chances slight as Obama begins new term

[Octafish]

Remember Gov. Donald Siegelman.

And why is Karl Rove's body free?



A 10-YEAR TRIAL: Siegelman’s pardon chances slight as Obama begins new term

Tim Lockette
AnnistonStar.com
Jan 20, 2013

MONTGOMERY — Four more years for President Barack Obama — one of history’s least-pardoning presidents — could spell four more years in prison for former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, one expert says.

“The chances of anyone getting a pardon from this president are very, very slim,” said P.S. Ruckman, a professor of political science at Rock Valley College in Illinois, who studies the use of the pardon power.

Since September, Siegelman, 66, has been in a federal prison in Oakdale, La., serving out the remainder of a six-year sentence in a 2006 public corruption case.

Siegelman exhausted his final appeal last summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case. Since then, supporters say they’re seeking a presidential pardon for the former governor, whose sentence ends in 2018.

Ten years ago today, Siegelman left elected office as his 2002 gubernatorial opponent Bob Riley was sworn in as Alabama’s governor. For Siegelman the ensuing decade became a rollercoaster ride of investigations, legal proceedings and appeals.

CONTINUED...

http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/21462350/article-A-10-YEAR-TRIAL--Siegelman%E2%80%99s-pardon-chances-slight-as-Obama-begins-new-term?instance=1st_left

[hack89]

1. You have to serve your time before getting a Presidential pardon in most cases.

the exceptions are extremely rare.

[Octafish]

2. Don't want any controversy or another Marc Rich situation.

Last edited Mon Jan 28, 2013, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Pardoning a fugitive is something that's only done for a really good ally. Or a lot of money.

[rhett o rick]

3. Extremely rare? Like to see the data. Nixon didnt serve a second.

I believe all the Iran-Contra boys got pardoned w/o serving. Would have to research.

[Octafish]

10. THOSE pardons kept BFEE out of jail and in the White House

Firewall: Inside the Iran-Contra Cover-up

By Robert Parry

EXCERPT...

Those combined interests likely will lead to very few favorable reviews of a new book by a man who put himself in the way of that cover-up -- Iran-contra independent counsel Lawrence Walsh. In a remarkable new book, Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up, Walsh details his six-year battle to break through the "firewall" that White House officials built around President Reagan and Vice President Bush after the Iran-contra scandal exploded in November 1986.

For Walsh, a lifelong Republican who shared the foreign policy views of the Reagan administration, the Iran-contra experience was a life-changing one, as his investigation penetrated one wall of lies only to be confronted with another and another -- and not just lies from Oliver North and his cohorts but lies from nearly every senior administration official who spoke with investigators.

According to Firewall, the cover-up conspiracy took formal shape at a meeting of Reagan and his top advisers in the Situation Room at the White House on Nov. 24, 1986. The meeting's principal point of concern was how to handle the troublesome fact that Reagan had approved illegal arms sales to Iran in fall 1985, before any covert-action finding had been signed. The act was a clear felony -- a violation of the Arms Export Control Act -- and possibly an impeachable offense.

Though virtually everyone at the meeting knew that Reagan had approved those shipments through Israel, Attorney General Edwin Meese announced what would become the cover story. According to Walsh's narrative, Meese "told the group that although [NSC adviser Robert] McFarlane had informed [Secretary of State George] Shultz of the planned shipment, McFarlane had not informed the president. ...

"[White House chief of staff Don] Regan, who had heard McFarlane inform the president and who had heard the president admit to Shultz that he knew of the shipment of Hawk [anti-aircraft] missiles, said nothing. Shultz and [Defense Secretary Caspar] Weinberger, who had protested the shipment before it took place, said nothing. [Vice President George] Bush, who had been told of the shipment in advance by McFarlane, said nothing. Casey, who [had] requested that the president sign the retroactive finding to authorize the CIA-facilitated delivery, said nothing. [NSC adviser John] Poindexter, who had torn up the finding, said nothing. Meese asked whether anyone knew anything else that hadn't been revealed. No one spoke."

CONTINUED...

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/story34.html

[hack89]

19. DOJ Rules Governing Petitions for Executive Clemency

§ 1.2 Eligibility for filing petition for pardon.

No petition for pardon should be filed until the expiration of a waiting period of at least five years after the date of the release of the petitioner from confinement or, in case no prison sentence was imposed, until the expiration of a period of at least five years after the date of the conviction of the petitioner. Generally, no petition should be submitted by a person who is on probation, parole, or supervised release.

http://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency.htm

There are exceptions but the vast majority of presidential pardons are mundane low profile affairs.

[rhett o rick]

20. I am sorry but what is your point? That Pres Obama is justified

for leaving Gov Siegelman in prison because it is rare to grant a pardon? Gov Siegelman is a political prisoner, victim of a corrupt system.

How do you rectify the fact that Nixon and six Iran Contra conspirators were pardoned in spite of the rule you posted?

[hack89]

22. Just pointing out that such pardons are rare.

nothing more, nothing less. Just an opportunity to share some knowledge many people might not be familiar with.

I personally think he should be pardoned. I understand why it is unlikely to happen.

[rhett o rick]

23. Ok thanks. nm

[rhett o rick]

4. Don was abandoned by the DEmocratic Party. I guess he was expendable. nm

[Octafish]

6. Seems like a string they don't want to pull leading straight to the BFEE.

Siegelman Judge is a big-time War Profiteer

I know you know that, though, rhett o rick.

Always wanted to ask you: Did you ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?"

[rhett o rick]

9. Absolutely. Twice. I love that book. Why do yu ask? nm

[Octafish]

11. Rhetoric - the art and science of persuasive speaking

Robert Pirsig was a genius. His work made me aware of my life's calling.

[rhett o rick]

17. I like the book for a number of reasons. And I think I still need to read it again.

I appreciated his outlook regarding the maintenance of his motorcycle. And also found his battle with sanity interesting. I think we all battle with sanity to one degree or another.

If I may, what is your calling?

[Octafish]

24. Communication.

I'm a journalist and communication researcher by training -- a science fiction movie maker at heart.

Pirsig made me understand how an idea works to change the world. For him, it was the concept of Quality. For me, it's the concept of Truth.

You should see the script I've got in the hopper.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Siegelman questioned Electronic Voting....

I think that's a capital offense. Have to set an example or other "sore losers" will start talking.

[Octafish]

7. Absolutely. The guy that (air quote) won (undo air quote) election is a GOP turd of first order.

Mimi Kennedy observed:

A sudden redistribution of gubernatorial votes in Baldwin County had reduced Governor Siegelman's totals by 3000, giving the win to Riley. No other Baldwin County results shifted during this odd event. Republican Attorney General Bill Pryor denied a recount of the paper ballots.

[Overseas]

14. So sad that there wasn't a recount.

[Octafish]

15. A conviction is an effective way to remove the competition.

And when the polls don't turn out the way they want at first, fine-tune the results.

Karl Rove and his bosses decided to nip things in the bud before "another Clinton" -- a charismatic, popular Southern governor --developed a national following.

[Overseas]

16. Son of a gun. such sheer viciousness just to clear the field.

I still don't understand why national Democrats didn't stand strong in defense of the governor.

[Autumn]

8. Not an ice cubes chance in hell that Obama will pardon former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman,

Sucks but that's they way it will roll.

[Octafish]

13. That would really be sad - more for Obama in the eyes of history.

Siegelman was railroaded and President Obama and the Department of Justice he leads went along with it.

"That judgment is that Elena Kagan was a willing accomplice in one of the most outrageous political prosecutions of our time. Why should anyone ever trust her?" -- Michael Collins

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8614514

Of course, Ms. Kagan today sits on the Supreme Court.

[NightWatcher]

12. Innocent (or wronged) people don't get pardons, only rich donors

[Octafish]

25. Good point. President Ford, the Warren Commission Liar, ponied up when pardoning Tricky Dick.

"It wasn't so much that I objected to the pardon as it was that it set one man above the law. We don't do that in our country." -- Jerald terHorst.

[uponit7771]

18. What is the reason for the silence on this case?

[Octafish]

26. Infuriating. The White House took down the petition for lack of interest.

"The petition you are trying to access has expired, because it failed to meet the signature threshold."

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-don-siegelman/4qjtPLKs?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

The media are silent because it's their job. Where the Democrats are in all this is evidence that the corruption is buy-partisan.

[rhett o rick]

21. Gov Seigelman dared to question the ruling elite and must pay the price.

Pres Obama's hands are tied.

[Octafish]

27. Can't upset them that brought you to the dance.

Wouldn't be prudent.

[rhett o rick]

28. I wonder if Pres Obama will pardon Bush, Cheney and the other war criminals. nm