Some Big Names Got a Measure of Mercy From President Obama
Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence officer, may be the best known felon whose sentence was commuted Tuesday by President Obama, but there were several other big names who received a measure of mercy from the Commander-in-Chief — and a notable omission as well.
Among others, Obama pardoned James "Hoss" Cartwright, who was facing a long prison sentence for talking to New York Times reporter David Sanger about the top secret Stuxnet program that infected Iran's nuclear program with a computer virus.
Sanger and other journalists pleaded for leniency for Cartwright, a retired four star Marine general who was vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, arguing that he was trying to talk the Times out of publishing the report — not leaking sensitive information.
Cartwright later plead guilty to making false statements during a federal investigation.
In all, Obama granted 209 commutations and 64 pardons on Tuesday.
Also receiving a pardon was baseball of Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, who in 1996 was fined and given two years' probation for failing to pay taxes on income he earned from 1988 to 1990, from selling sports memorabilia and signing autographs.
Ian Schrager, the nightclub impresario whose Studio 54 was the place to be in 1970's Manhattan, also got a presidential pardon. He and co-founder Steve Rubell did time for tax evasion.
Dwight Loving, one of the few members of the U.S. military on Death Row, had his sentence commuted to life without parole. He had been convicted of killing two taxicab drivers in 1988 while he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He has been on death row for more than 27 years.
Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez, who was serving 55 years in prison for plotting to overthrow the U.S. government and an additional 15 years for conspiring to escape from Leavenworth federal prison, had his sentence commuted. The 74-year-old former leader of the FALN movement will be released by May 17.
Not on Obama's list of people receiving pardons was David Petreaus, a four star general and former CIA director who in 2015 was sentenced to two years probation and a $100,000 fine for giving classified information to his mistress.
<img class="img-responsive img_inline" src="http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_03/1868486/170117-david-petraeus-rhk-1802p_4f83f41731110332f5c820623062d433.nbcnews-fp-360-360.jpg" alt="Image: Gen. David Petraeus testifies during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 15, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C." title="Image: Gen. David Petraeus testifies during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 15, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C." />
Gen. David Petraeus testifies during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 15, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong / Getty Images
Petreaus' cause was taken up by supporters who pointed out that none of the material he turned over fell into hostile hands.
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I understand it's a President's prerogative to pardon anyone he chooses, but pardoning Manning is a slap in the face to everyone wearing or who has worn the uniform of our military or worked in defense of our nation. Manning is not a hero, not a Whistleblower. He was a low ranking enlisted intel specialist that had many issues, one of them was that the Army didn't think he was as special as he thought he was. He broke the law, he intended to break the law and he did. He also dishonored his entire branch of the military while endangering others (and possibly led to the death of people).
And yet, he didn't pardon Petreaus. Yeah, he screwed up and broke the law, but the information never made it to the hands of our enemies and did not cause the death of anyone.
Just another case of poor judgment on the President's part. 2 more days and he's gone.
Manning violated the oaths he took. He should rot in prison.
As a retired military guy, I couldn't agree with you more.
I agree 110%.
I am dismayed by Manning's pardon. That being said, maybe I don't know the whole story as to why he pardoned him.
Transvestite.
LGBQ Politics.
Bradley Manning could have been shot. Instead, he gets a pardon and a free surgical costume so he can pretend he's a woman. That'll teach these traitors.
I don't either, Dowser, but his pardon is a slap in the face to every honorably serving Military man or woman, or any that have served in the past. This tells those in uniform that if you sell your country out, you cause people to get killed, you can get a pardon because he's decided to declare himself a woman and that's what is currently in 'style' with this administration.
Why not pardon Walker too? and the guy from the FBI? And all the others that have BETRAYED their country?
I'm sorry, but I can't conceive of something more unjust then this situation right at this moment.
I am dismayed by this pardon... I don't understand why he pardoned Manning, nor can I.
well first of all it wasn't a "Pardon" per se, it was a commutation of sentence, meaning manning wont be serving the full sentence, he was still found guilty , was still dishonorably discharged by the military , which carries its own set of particulars as to what happens . and all that remain the factual record and the judgment continues to stand.
as for his current medical condition , which from what I have read entailed hormone treatments only ( he can still use a urinal ) he has been allowed to wear feminine undergarments , but nothing else so far. Upon his release , his medical bills for gender reassignment become his own from that moment on if that choice is made , and not the military or governments such as it would be if he remained in custody and in prison. In simple terms if he wished to become female , he now has to find another way to pay for it.
Thanks, Mark, for your truthful education. That makes a lot more sense.
lady d that's just my assessment of whats transpired , and based on whats been reported in the past.
Thanks!
According to this article, Bradley sued to get hormone therapy and the military agreed to give it to him. Since then, the military agreed to pay for full reassignment surgery for the gender confused at a cost of up to $50,000 each. The military specifically told him that it is paying for his surgery while he is in prison.
so he has to go under the knife between now , and 17 may when he is released to have the government pay the bill.
Maybe Trump can kick his ass out earlier to avoid paying.
If it wasn't for Manning, you all would be blissfully unaware of how regularly corruption and misconduct saturates those in trusted positions. He (now she) was integral in forcing them to straighten the fuck out. Since then, much needed transparency has muscled its way into the system.
If it wasn't for Manning, you all would be blissfully unaware of how regularly corruption and misconduct saturates those in trusted positions.
We were reminded of that by Hillary Clinton.
He (now she) was integral in forcing them to straighten the fuck out. Since then, much needed transparency has muscled its way into the system.
That's funny. He (still he) straightened them out while he couldn't get himself "straight".