Conrad Black Asks Bush for Clemency

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

(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 Congressman who pleaded guilty to taking bribes in 2006. More»

(NEWSER) - Dick Cheney believes disgraced former chief of staff Scooter Libby, convicted in the CIA leak investigation, deserved a pardon, the Weekly Standard reports. “He was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice,” the former vice president said. “Obviously, I disagree with President Bush.” Bush’s decision has been ascribed to an honest belief in Libby’s guilt, but also to a desire for the pardon not to appear politically motivated. More»

Petitioners include the American Taliban, but not Scooter Libby

(NEWSER) - President Bush is nearing the end of his term, and felons are coming out of the woodwork in historic numbers to ask for pardons and reduced sentences, the New York Times reports. It is not unusual for there to be a spike in pardons granted by a president in his final months in office: Half of Bill Clinton’s 459 pardons happened in his last three months. More»

Ex-media tycoon surrenders in Fla. as he appeals ruling

(NEWSER) - Ex-newspaper mogul Conrad Black arrived at a Florida prison today to start his 6-and-1/2 year term for fraud and obstruction of justice, Reuters reports. He stayed mum as his wife drove him in, but is appealing the ruling that he helped bilk his former company of $6.1 million. "My book about this outrage is almost ready, so if I must go, I will not be going quietly," he wrote in a recent email. More»

Court rules tycoon must spend appeal process in prison

(NEWSER) - Former media tycoon Conrad Black, convicted of swindling millions from his newspaper empire, will be behind bars by Monday night, reports the Chicago Sun-Tribune. A Chicago court ruled that he couldn't remain free on bail while awaiting a decision on his appeal. Black has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for obstruction of justice and defrauding shareholders of Hollinger International, once the third-largest publisher of English-language newspapers in the world. More»