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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon

Friends say former senator would rather clear name through courts anyway

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(Newser) – Sen. Lisa Murkowski asked President Bush to pardon former Alaska Republican colleague Ted Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports. But Stevens would rather fight his corruption conviction in court, friends say, because he felt a pardon would taint his legacy. Murkowski wrote that she did not want to see Stevens, 85, spend the rest of his life involved in litigation.

“Senator Stevens has indicated that he does not intend to seek a pardon,” Murkowski wrote in the letter, released after Barack Obama took office yesterday. “I am pursuing this request, on my own initiative, in the interest of justice and out of compassion for a man who has served our Nation and the State of Alaska with great distinction for all of his adult life.”

Ted Stevens stands next to fellow Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as they watch election results at Stevens campaign headquarters in Anchorage.
Ted Stevens stands next to fellow Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as they watch election results at Stevens campaign headquarters in Anchorage.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, leaves the Senate chamber after making his last formal speech on the Senate floor and listening to tributes from his colleagues, Nov. 20, 2008.
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, leaves the Senate chamber after making his last formal speech on the Senate floor and listening to tributes from his colleagues, Nov. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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I would prefer to see Sen. Stevens devote his remaining years to chronicling his extraordinary life of public service than continue to pursue justice in an adversarial environment.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, in a letter to former President Bush

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3 comments
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SPH
Jan 21, 09 10:29 PM CST
Bush used his pardon pen sparingly strictly because pardoning people would allow them to speak freely of Bush administrations crimes. Keeping these people under a legal threat guarantees their silence. Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Jan 22, 09 6:16 AM CST
The real reason was that he had trouble spelling people's names. He also had more fun playing with his Hotwheels and couldn't be bothered. Reply
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Shannonals
Jan 26, 09 4:08 PM CST
I personally think Bush never pardoned Ted Stevens because of two issues. #1 Stevens trial hasn't been completely ajudicated and #2 Stevens is an Alaskan legend, i doubt he will ever be found guitly Reply
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ANALYSIS

 Stevens Not Likely 
 to Recover Legacy  

Senator unlikely to restore reputation

Apr 2, 09 9:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Legally, Ted Stevens is off the hook. But it's unlikely he'll be able to regain his stature, or the Senate honors he might otherwise have been afforded, Laurie Kellman writes for the AP. His peers were notably restrained in response to yesterday's news that Justice is likely to void the... More »

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Alaska • corruption • prosecutorial misconduct • Ted Stevens • Orrin Hatch • Daniel Inouye • US Senate

DOJ Pulls Prosecutors Off Stevens Case

Judge finds lawyers
in contempt for withholding documents

Feb 17, 09 8:46 AM CST
(Newser) - The Justice Department has yanked the team that prosecuted Ted Stevens off any future action in the case, Politico reports, after the judge found four of the lawyers—including chief prosecutor Brenda Morris—in contempt. Morris and company raised the judge’s ire by withholding documents related to FBI agent... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Department of Justice • Alaska • FBI • Ted Stevens • prosecutors • whistleblower • witness • corruption trial • Mary Beth Kepner

Bush Rejected Pardons for Milken, Other 'High Rollers'

'He seems to go out of his way to deny the high rollers, the prominent people,' source says

Jan 27, 09 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) - George Bush formally denied pardons for several prominent politicians and businessmen on his last day in office, the Justice Department told the Los Angeles Times today. Among those whose pleas fell on deaf ears were Michael Milken, a businessman convicted of insider trading and stock evasion, and Randall Cunningham, a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
presidential pardon • commutation • clemency • pardon • Michael Milken • President • George W. Bush • John Walker Lindh • Leonard Peltier • Randall Cunningham

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Read Sen. Murkowski's letter requesting a pardon for Stevens
Anchorage Daily News


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Alaska • FBI • corruption • presidential pardon • Ted Stevens • pardon • George W. Bush • President Obama • Lisa Murkowski

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