Please, Bush, Don't Pardon Ted Stevens

Published December 03, 2008 @ 05:19AM PT

Ted Stevens, the 85-year-old former Alaska Senator convicted in October of seven counts of failing to report gifts he accepted between 1999 and 2006, is facing up to 35 years in prison. He was a corrupt, favor-trading, pork-barrel politician, and voters just barely kicked him out in the November election (after he had been convicted).

Politico reported this week that although Stevens hasn't yet requested a pardon from President Bush, he may yet ask. And here's Orin Hatch's thought on it:

“He has served this country for over 50 years,” said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), a widely respected member of the Judiciary Committee. “I think most anybody would probably say, ‘Yeah, he should be [pardoned].’ I think most anybody would say it’s fair to say that.”

So Hatch considers Stevens' crimes minor and thinks he should be pardoned? Where's the line? How much can you rob from the country during your '50 years of service' for it to be forgivable? Can you commit one crime per decade?

Under Hatch's logic, any career government employee should have a pass to break the law a few times.

Please, George, no pardon for Ted Stevens.

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Comments (10)

Tell me where to sign if this does happen.

Posted by Charlotte Rademaekers on 12/03/2008 @ 06:49AM PT
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Charlotte, you can sign this petition to tell Bush not to pardon Stevens:
http://criminaljustice.change.org/actions/view/bush_should_not_pardon_ted_stevens

Posted by Joshua Levy on 12/03/2008 @ 08:41AM PT
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That old man should not get 35 years for taking the American people's money for more then 50 year. He should be a real American and ask for 50 years and his family should pay back all the money that our country needs now!!!!!!

Posted by Dante Novoa on 12/03/2008 @ 11:20AM PT
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Considering that Mr. Bush should be begging our pardon, this is kind of a joke. Petition or no, it depends on the commonality of oil ties. If they have the same friends directly or indirectly in the biz (or the house of Bin Laden/Saud), he'll get the pardon.

If he doesn't get a pardon it won't be because of any petition. This is a President who ran things from the certainty of divine right. In his mind, he is right, has always been right, and is eternally justified. Damn posterity, full speed ahead!

Posted by Harold Lewis on 12/03/2008 @ 11:37AM PT
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I can't see pardoning this guy, but after the unbelievable creeps that Clinton pardoned it would be hard to have this blatant of a double standard.

Posted by Charlie Reed on 12/03/2008 @ 05:13PM PT
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It would surprise me greatly if President Bush does not pardon then former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. He will state his age as 85 years, and his health as poor....and his contributions to the nation as reason for the pardon.

Regardless of the fact that his abrasive personality and gruff voice did not endear him to Republican or Democratic colleague, the comradeship of the longest serving Republican senator will probably save his hide.

Posted by A B on 12/04/2008 @ 10:12AM PT
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For crimes from 1999-2006, what about the other 50 yrs .Send him for a visit with the DUKE

Posted by JOSEPH CARBONARO on 12/07/2008 @ 08:06AM PT
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The "pardon" is as old as western civilization. The Roman Empire used it, as we know since Governor Pontius Pilate of Judea, in the name of the Caesarian Emperor, did pardon Barrabas the terrorist. Jesus of Nazareth was not so lucky. Pilate merely literally and symbolically "washed his hands" of the matter.

Segue or fast forward to Bush in 2008-09. Two-term presidents have finished elective office politics for life. Truman's popularity was so low in January of 1953 that he drove himself and Bess to Union Station to take the train to Independence, MO. There was only his WWI pension and he had no Secret Service protection.
Today, both political parties comment favorably upon Give'm hell Harry.

With George W 43, there are historians who say, " Move over, Millard." Regardless of that fact, if Cunningham, Stevens or the plethora of prisoner pols with "R" after their name get pardoned - we might utter an expletive or simply sigh and await the New Deal Redux.

Posted by A B on 12/07/2008 @ 02:16PM PT
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If you break the law you go to jail that is the way it works in my world. The world of the poor and powerless. I suppose the rules are diffrent if you are powerful and rich? What you think?

Posted by Cherokee Fred Jesus on 12/12/2008 @ 11:47PM PT
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Do you remember when Rush Limbaugh had his Oxycontin "troubles"? Do you remember when previous to that, he said that all drug users accused should be convicted and serve life sentences in prison?

Do you remember when Bill O'Reilly had his "harrassment" issues at his network? Do you remember O'Reilly blustering on about how those who sexually harrass should spend decades in prison?

Do you remember how both those men got clemency and mercy?

Well, to Right Wing oligarchs and their mouthpieces, the term is

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

Posted by A B on 12/13/2008 @ 05:20AM PT
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Matt has worked and volunteered in various capacities in criminal justice reform for several years. When he's not blogging, he works as the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project. Views expressed here are Matt's, and don't represent the positions of the Innocence Project.