|
President Bill Clinton was criticized for some of his pardons and acts of executive clemency.〔(Presidential Pardons )〕 Pardoning or commuting sentences is a power granted by the U.S. Constitution to all sitting United States Presidents. While most presidents grant pardons throughout their terms, Clinton chose to make most of them on January 20, 2001, his last day in office. This came to be known as Pardongate.〔Reaves, Jessica, ("Pardongate Play-by-Play": TIME.com's quick 'n' constantly updated account of the Clinton pardon scandals ), ''Time''.〕 While Clinton pardoned a large number (450〔) of people compared with his immediate predecessor Republican George H. W. Bush, who only pardoned 75, the number of people pardoned by Clinton was comparable to Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter, who pardoned 406 and 566 respectively. Federal prosecutor and Democrat Mary Jo White was appointed to investigate the pardons. She was later replaced by Republican James Comey, who found no wrongdoing on Clinton's part. ==FALN Commutation of 1999== On August 11, 1999, Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of FALN, which is a Puerto Rican paramilitary organization that set off 120 bombs in the United States, mostly in New York City and Chicago. There were convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery, bomb-making, and sedition, as well as firearms and explosives violations.〔(Press Release 1999 #352 News Advisory ), United States Department of Justice: ''(The Office of Public Affairs )'', 1999-08-11.〕 The 16 were convicted of conspiracy and sedition and sentenced with terms ranging from 35 to 105 years in prison. Congress, however, recognizes that the FALN is responsible for "6 deaths and the permanent maiming of dozens of others, including law enforcement officials." Clinton offered clemency on the condition that the prisoners renounce violence, seeing as none of the 16 had been convicted of harming anyone and they had already served 19 years in prison. This action was lobbied for by ten Nobel Laureates and the Archbishop of Puerto Rico.〔Rep. Dan Burton (December 12, 1999). "Findings of the committee on government reform". United States House of Representatives: Committee on Government Reform. https://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/final_faln_rpt2.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-10.〕 The commutation was opposed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and was criticized by many, including former victims of FALN terrorist activities and the Fraternal Order of Police.〔Press release: Gallegos, Gilbert G., ("Letter to President William Jefferson Clinton" ), ''Fraternal Order of Police Grand Lodge'', 1999-08-18.〕 Hillary Clinton, then campaigning for her first term in the Senate, initially supported the commutation,〔("White House responds to criticism of clemency offer" ), ''CNN: AllPolitics'', 1999-09-02.〕 but later withdrew her support.〔Black, Chris, ("First lady opposes presidential clemency for Puerto Rican Nationalists" ), ''CNN: AllPolitics'', 1999-09-05.〕 Congress condemned this action by President Clinton, with votes of 95–2 in the Senate and 311-41 in the House.〔("Congressional Record — HOUSE" H8019 ), ''United States Government Printing Office'', 1999-09-09.〕〔("Congressional Record — SENATE" S18018 ), ''United States Government Printing Office'', 1999-09-14.〕 The U.S. House Committee on Government Reform held an investigation on the matter, but the Justice Department prevented FBI officials from testifying.〔Frieden, Terry, ("Justice blocks FBI testimony at FALN clemency hearing" ), CNN, 1999-09-14.〕 President Clinton cited executive privilege for his refusal to turn over some documents to Congress related to his decision to offer clemency to members of the FALN terrorist group. Among those who accepted clemency are: *Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years in prison. *Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 60 years in prison. *Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 90 years in prison. *Adolfo Matos, sentenced to 70 years in prison. *Dylcia Noemi Pagan, sentenced to 55 years in prison. *Alicia Rodríguez, sentenced to 55 years in prison. *Ida Luz Rodriguez, sentenced to 75 years in prison. *Luis Rosa, sentenced to 75 years in prison. *Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 90 years in prison. *Alberto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years in prison. *Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years in prison. Those who rejected clemency include: *Juan Enrique Segarra-Palmer, sentenced to 55 years in prison; released on 25 January 2004.〔(''Hundreds Greet Nationalist Freed After 19 Years In Prison.'' ) Laura Rivera Melendez, Associated Press. 25 January 2004. Puerto Rico Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2011.〕 *Oscar López Rivera, sentenced to 70 years in prison refused clemency and remains incarcerated. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bill Clinton pardon controversy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|