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Expert: Tenet, Gonzales, Rumsfeld could get ‘preemptive pardons’
David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Raw Story
Thursday November 27, 2008
Some Republicans are hoping to see President Bush issue pre-emptive pardons to former top officials in his administration who might become targets of Democratic investigations.
CNN’s Joe Johns asked legal analyst Sonny Hostin whether this could really happen. “It’s not so crazy,” Hostin replied. “It’s been done before. The president has the power to pardon any criminal offense, and that power can be exercised at any time. … Gerald Ford’s pardon of Nixon before his indictment is probably one of the best-known examples.”
Hostin stated that blanket pardons for officials who approved of torture are unlikely, but that certain specific names are currently being “bandied about,” including former CIA Director George Tenet, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. All three have been implicated in the abuse of detainees, and Gonzales is also in legal difficulties over his role in the US Attorney scandal.
Although Ford’s pardon of Nixon is the best-known example of pre-emptive use of the pardon power, there is another significant precedent for presidential pardons of high administration officials. Shortly before leaving office, in December 1992, President George H.W. Bush pardoned six individuals who had been convicted or were in legal trouble over their involvement in the Iran-Contra scandal, including former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who was about to go on trial for lying to Congress.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)
Independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh, who had been investigating Iran-Contra since 1986, charged at the time that “the Iran-contra cover-up, which has continued for more than six years, has now been completed.” He also suggested that Bush himself might have been involved in “a conspiracy among the highest ranking Reagan Administration officials to lie to Congress and the American public.”
Among those pardoned at that time was former Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams, who had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress. Abrams is currently a Deputy National Security Advisor to George W. Bush.
This video is from CNN’s American Morning, broadcast Nov. 26, 2008.
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20 Responses to “Expert: Tenet, Gonzales, Rumsfeld could get ‘preemptive pardons’”
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November 27th, 2008 at 7:47 am
that whole pardon stuff is garbage !!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/profile.....iew=videos
goldieshouse.piczo.com
November 27th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I doubt we will have to worry about the Democrats investigating or prosecuting Republicans for torture or other violations for two reasons.
1. There is no way the Democrats are going to risk making people skeptical of the government, they want unquestioned obedience we are not going to allow anyone to start second guessing government activities.
2. The Democrats want to be able to use these same “tools” to promote their agendas. They are not going to risk upsetting the apple cart here. They want to be able to torture too. Why let the Republicans have all the fun?
November 27th, 2008 at 8:31 am
That’s whats wrong in this country. They make the Laws and they can make these pardons stand,ONLY if the people protest and you know what, People are tired of being taken advantage of. You’ll see many of these men who controlled us for past 8 years getting what they deserve from the public. What will that be, well maybe the trend will turn to people taking care of business like the Government took care of Kennedy. I surely wouldn’t feel bad if someone does. It might also send a message like this Government does to others. Lets play there Game with them once, and see how the hell they like it! Remember “2″ can play at this game. These politicians can do what they want and have Pardons to get them out of jail free cards? I don’t think so. It will send a message to the general Public that will turn in to total Chaos. Once these officials leave there posts, they become part of the general public, and they just might be out for JUSTICE.! Ever wonder why people don’t have the respect for law today? Its like raising a child and allowing them to see that if they do something wrong and get away with it, they can do anything! Same thing these politicians believe. People are tired of this. WE WANT CHANGE! Enough using the law to hide behind the criminals they are! People will ONLY take so much. Life will catch up to everyone of them! In due time, they will pay there dues for the cruel works they have all done to Humanity. If they go through this life without having to answer for anything, They will when they’re stopped at the Pearly Gates! They can fool mankind, but you can’t fool Peter. No Pardons allowed there!
November 27th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Criminals pardon criminals , its a great system for the people at the top .Commit treason ,be responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people ,then walk away like nothing happened because the ringleader said its okay.Sounds to me like a stacked deck .The president can even pardon criminals before charges are even put on the table.They say he may be the president but hes not the king,who ever said that was as smart as the people that vote on election day ……………………………………………………………………………
November 27th, 2008 at 9:41 am
If the President can pardon criminals in the Executive who circumvent Congress, and chooses the Supreme Court where are the checks and balances?
here’s an idea: No security for Government officials, except local militias.
Having the security forces benefit from the lies and corruption is a really really bad idea.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:21 am
NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH! UPDATE……….READ ALL ABOUT IT…. NEWS FLASH……
George W Bush has pardoned Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfield….!!!!! I saw it myself on High Definition T.V. !!! It happened in front of the White House on the front lawn.
Both of the crooks were dressed in a “White Turkey” outfit…feathers and all. They were so freekin happy they even gobbled.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Got rope?
These baby killers will not escape justice.
November 27th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
let the bastard pardom whome ever he wish’s….. the people will not. “….they have to sleep some time”
November 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Yes, Bush will pardon these criminals, I don’t doubt that at all.
November 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I am shocked! SHOCKED!
I wonder if Bush will make Obama an honorary citizen as well!
November 27th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
To Hell with Bush and Dick Cheney! IF this market falters because your oil currency fears cheap oil flooding the market by IRAN i Hope to God they do it! were use to living in very low incomes now. People, when pushed into a corner get pissed, there isn’t an army going to protect you. Someone will get through and Put a Bullet in your head like your kind did to Kennedy. Were Not blind to your bullshit. I would be putting down what my father taught me to be and do. That is to stand up for myself and others. Iran didn’t sign your pact years ago, and neither did Iraq. we all know what our country did to Saddam and Iraq. the same is coming to Iran because of it. Our kids are going off to war to fight a war agenda,. These soldiers are walking blind Fighting the wrong enemy. They are right on our Home soil here. They’re the Bush’s and Cheneys of this country, The Rockefellars and other Rich ELITES. There fighting for oil,and allowing there own familys to fall to these elites right here at home in The United States. What Happened to “the Few, the Brave, the Marines. There fighting a war Now not for you and me But allowed themselves Not to be able to think and decide for themselves Not to. Your family and your HONOR belong here at home protecting your family’s here, Not policing them like criminals because they speak out against what this Government is making you fight against and for! Learn what the War of 1776 was all about. Its back!!! Fight for our freedoms. Down with Empirilism.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
ya let the mass murderers off the hook bush thats what he does best i hope they all get taken care of if you know what i mean they deserve the end of a rope hanging for all kids moms fathers they have killed in there quest for greed and control fuck the nwo and fuck them and any congress member that suports them is just as bad as they are!!!!!!
November 28th, 2008 at 8:14 am
What else would you expect from th Boosh crime syndicate?
This family is the most corrupt, immoral and lawlees bunch in Amerika. They make John Gotti look like an altar boy.
Drug trafficking, satanism, pedophilia are just a few of this family’s decadent history.
Now that shrub is about to leave office, he’s going to pardon his crimminal cronies. That’s fine. Let him.
BUT WE WON’T!
All we have to do is wait for them to let their guard down for just one moment.
“WE the People” are going to speak with a vengeance not known since the French Revolution.
Bring Back the Guilloteine!
November 28th, 2008 at 10:36 am
THEY CAN INDITE HIM BUT THE PROSICUTOR HAS TO FILE THAT CHARGE, HE NEEDS TO WAIT UNTIL BUSH LEAVES OFFICE TO DI IT, OTHERWISE IT’S A WASTE OF TIME.
ALSO, YOU CAN NOT PARDON SOMEONE BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
truthmonster
“YOU CAN NOT PARDON SOMEONE BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED. ”
of course you can, they just said so on CNN…
November 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
the government can do anything they want-anytime they want-you cant do a damn thing about it-this is the two thousands brother-you are a slave-sit down and shut up-george bush is god-dont you forget it-obama is only the messia-bush tells him what to do-he is devine-go back to sleep
November 29th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
15 neon Says:
November 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
truthmonster
“YOU CAN NOT PARDON SOMEONE BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED. ”
of course you can, they just said so on CNN
FK CNN, IT’S NOT A CRIMINAL CHARGE UNTIL IT’S FILED IN COURT.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
YOU KNOW, FK THESE REPORTERS.
HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE HAVE BEEN EYEWITNESS’ TO SOMETHING ONLY TO READ A DIFFERT VERSION IN THE PRESS AND ON TV.
JUST BECAUSE A REPORTER SAYS SO, DOENT MAKE IT SO.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
CNN REPORTED CLINTON DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN, BUT WORLD NET DAILY PROVED OTHERWISE
November 29th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Those were the days,,,,, Clinton was getting blown in the whitehouse,,,we all had jobs and cash,,,,no wars or torture, what the fuk happened? These oil defense mafia war criminals have toileted the whole fukin world. Never got enough billions in the chest, kids are running around with bloated stomachs while these fuktards hoard away pallets of cash, quite willing to bomb the poor or murder anyone they want. Open yer fukin eyes mate. Where are the blowjob police when ya need em, spent 14 million dollars to prove the president got a blowjob and nowhere to be found when the bushians torture and murder thousands. Pathetic. Of course the ex pres got blown,,, he deserved it