Politics

More Bush Pardons Expected

By Michelle Levi

December 23, 2008 / 11:30 AM EST / CBS News

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

We have not seen the last of George W. Bush's presidential pardons, CBS News' White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports. The White House says there are more pardons on the way in the final days of this administration and possibly a pre-Christmas announcement.

Knoller says this may not be the last batch of forvigeness, though we should not expect the sorts of last minute pardons undertaken by Bill Clinton as he left office.

Mr. Bush has so far granted 171 pardons and 8 commutations, which CBS News reported was less than half as many as Presidents Clinton and Reagan. Among those lucky few are individuals charged with cocaine and marijuana distribution as well as embezzlement and tax evasion.