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January 18, 2009 6:41 PM

Murkowski Asks Bush To Pardon Stevens

Posted by Ryan Corsaro
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
CBS News has confirmed that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has asked President Bush to pardon Ted Stevens, the former Alaska senator from charged with several felony counts by a federal jury in 2008.

Murkowski’s spokesperson, Mike Brumas spoke to CBS News' Ryan Corsaro by phone, saying that Sen. Murkowski had made the request to President Bush, but would not give details.

“It's a sensitive time right now,” said Brumas after confirming the pardon had been requested. Murkowski does not have an announcement scheduled for tomorrow.

A spokesperson from the White House could not be immediately reached for comment.

Before losing his seat in the last election, Stevens had served as a senator from Alaska since 1968. Last October, he was found guilty on seven counts of failing to reports gifts. After trying to contest his seat following a slim loss to Democrat Mark Begich, Stevens conceded the race in mid-November.

Tags:
ted stevens ,
pardon ,
lisa murkowski ,
george bush
Topics:
Republicans
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Add a Comment See all 43 Comments
by terribletire January 19, 2009 3:23 PM EST
Whay does Lisa Murkowski hate America?
Reply to this comment
by punkinpie1 January 19, 2009 1:04 PM EST
Usually a president wait til the
last day in office to pardon their
criminals on their watch. So there
is always a possiblity that these
corrupt officials never spend time
behind bars! Sorry to tell you
that.
Reply to this comment
by punkinpie1 January 19, 2009 1:01 PM EST
I listen Up to the Minute this
morning. There was historians on
there from George Mason University,
they said that 89% of them agreed
that Dubya was the worst president
in our nations history.
Reply to this comment
by yam250 January 19, 2009 1:00 PM EST
what ever happened to if you commit a crime you pay for it. I
this lisa murkowski should not be allow to remain in office either. IF you try to get a criminal off, you may be a criminal yourself.
THIS IS WHAT OUR COUNTRY HAS COME TO. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU STEAL, THERE WILL BE NO PUNISHMENT FOR IT.
Reply to this comment
by punkinpie1 January 19, 2009 12:58 PM EST
This doen''t surprise me at all. But
he may have to parden himself, our
ex-att.general Alberto. He may have
to parden Cheney too.
Reply to this comment
by assemblyofso January 19, 2009 11:53 AM EST
Can he go ahead and issue a "pre pardon" for Obama and Biden.
Reply to this comment
by msay3 January 19, 2009 11:51 AM EST
Why won''t Bush pardon Ramos and Campeon? Four words..."My friend, Johnny Sutton".
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 January 19, 2009 11:37 AM EST
First of all it is the right of any President to pardon any one that he wants too. So with that if the President wants to he can. I believe in the constitution and it is there but then again if you are angry then too bad.

Clinton did it, Bush did it, Regan did it, Carter, Ford, and Johnson did it that is as far back as I can remember Presidents given pardons out so stuff it it is his right.
Reply to this comment
by jackp32 January 19, 2009 10:24 AM EST
Pardon Stevens? This man has been a corrupt Senator for many years. His conduct has been covered up by Repub. and Dem. senators who also engage in corruption. They are now ralling around Stevens to pay him back for the crooked favors he granted to his fellow senators. In his positions in the Senate, Stevens parcelled out money to his colleagues through corrupt actions. Anyone supporting a pardon, as far as I am concerned, stands for greed and crooked politics. These people are a disgrace and should be voted out of office next election.
Reply to this comment
by dumdnc January 19, 2009 10:05 AM EST
Ramos and Campione should be pardoned.
No matter what Bush does in pardons it won''t compare to the pardon-fest of bubba.
But hey, holder gets a good gig out of his pardons.
Reply to this comment
by dmorg4 January 19, 2009 9:24 AM EST
well if they pardon stevens i want ramo and compean
Reply to this comment
by ramos937 January 19, 2009 6:56 AM EST
I have read the case of Ramos and Compean. They had a fair trial and were convicted on the merits of the case. When the chase began, they did not know that the guy was a drug dealer and did not know that until afterwards. One of the things they did was to try to cover up their actions which by any stretch is illegal. Texas Monthly had an excellent article on this case. Folks like Lou Dobbs just hatched onto the case for ratings.

All of the above being said, Ramos and Compean, up to that time, did serve honorably. They have suffered enough. Bush should grant them pardons, or at the very least commute their sentences to time served before he leaves office Tuesday. He should not leave it to Obama. Obama has enough on his plate.
Reply to this comment
by garciagar January 19, 2009 5:06 AM EST
Bush will die in prison. Believe or not!
Reply to this comment
by ballpen1 January 19, 2009 4:02 AM EST
Bush has become the sacrificial lamb of the GOP, he can''t fall any deeper, so they use him. His handlers will show him exactly where to sign and what to say and explain to him the consequences of failing to do so.

Then he will disappear, leave the country, to somewhere that doesn''t extradite to us. I wouldn''t be surprised if he were absent from the inauguration, there''s always the chance that Obama declares him an enemy combatant at 12:01, and i guess THAT''S something the Secret Service does NOT train for...
Reply to this comment
by ddaymichael January 19, 2009 3:58 AM EST
Bush has not cared for eight years that the American people know he is corrupt...why should he care now?

He & his gang have presided over the largest transfer of wealth (theft)in human history...sending other people''s children to a war for profit...and dismantling the Constitution he swore to protect & defend.

He''d best save that first pardon for himself! Probably the only admission of guilt we''ll ever get from him.
Reply to this comment
by hermitdave January 19, 2009 3:48 AM EST
Let the old man go and make room for Cheney, Rummy, and George.
Reply to this comment
by cattiej January 19, 2009 3:14 AM EST
I have been writing since Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean have been illegally put in prison by AG Johnny Sutton to release these men.
If Bush doesn''t pardon this men Monday, then the first thing that Barack Obama should do is pardon these two U.S. Border Patrol Agents, Ramos and Compean. These men we put in prison when Johnny Sutton should be the person put in prison. Sutton is a traitor to America. I had written to Obama last year and he answered back that they were found guilty and he couldn''t do anything to help them. I disagreed and disagree to this day. Everyone, send a letter, e-mail of telephone Obama to ask him to pardon Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean immediately. I don''t know these men but everyday I pray for their release. I am a 70 year old grandmother from Illinois and my heart bleeds to think of these family men being "railroaded into prison". Stevens can rot for all I care.
Reply to this comment
by auscross1277 January 19, 2009 3:07 AM EST
Why can''t we actually see a republican follow the law... rather than give pardons or amnesty???
Reply to this comment
by shanev137 January 19, 2009 2:48 AM EST
In the last 24 hours of his presidency, Bush will pardon the most controversial figures.

--------


That''s what I''m waiting for.

$100 says there will be some really slimy pardons happening here very shortly. Just watch.
Reply to this comment
by stinginrich January 19, 2009 2:37 AM EST
There is nothing going to be served by putting this old man in jail. His career is over anyway. He is only guilty of allowing his friend to upgrade his house. there were never any charges that taxpayer money was misdirected in return. There are much worse criminals pardoned by Clinton and his Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by machineguy at 11:17 PM : Jan 18, 2009
+ report abuse

Translation: "My Party of Criminal Buttweasles has been decimated due to Rampant Corruption and Greed"...."Please leave us at least one guy to run in 2010, or we''re finished"....*sniff*.....
Reply to this comment
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