Bush Pardons

President Bush has granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations over the eight years he has been in office. By comparison, President Clinton pardoned 396 and President Reagan pardoned 393 during their time in office.FOX News: Bush commutes sentences ... (January 19, 2009)

On January 19, 2009, President Bush commuted the sentences of former border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. The two were convicted in 2005 of shooting a drug runner from Mexico. According to the defense, the men were acting in accordance with their job duties. However, prosecutors felt that the men used excessive force and could not connect their target with the drug van in question. Their prison sentences will now end on March 20, 2009. Although the president has until noon on the 20th, when the president-elect is sworn in, the White House staff has indicated these will be his last acts of clemencyFOX News: Bush commutes sentences ... (January 19, 2009)

The President's pardon power is stated in the U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2: 'The President ... shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment'.

Particular attention is being paid to the individuals pardoned by Bush at the end of 2008, since it his last year with the power, and many prominent individuals are reportedly seeking pardons. Bush has until the last day of his term to issue pardons.The Washington Post: Well-Known Offenders Seek Pardons (November 24, 2008)

When President Bush announced on January 19, 2009, his last full day in office, that he was commuting the prison sentences of two former border agents convicted of shooting a drug trader, he also declared through his spokesperson that he would not issue any more pardons. Some of his supporters were disappointed that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former aide of Vice President Dick Cheney was not pardoned by Bush. Libby was convicted in 2007 for perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements in connection to the Valerie Plame Affair, where he lied about his involvement in the leaking of the name of CIA undercover operative Valerie Plame.Newsweek: No Pardon For Libby (January 19, 2009)