Hey President Bush, Pardon Me!

Conservatives can’t stop whining about Bill Clinton’s presidential pardons, but will they raise eyebrows about those offered by President Bush?  How about Alan Maiss, the former president of Bally Gaming, who gave money to Bush’s campaign in 2003 and 2004?  Maiss pleaded guilty in 1995 to failing to report a fellow gaming executive’s ties to organized crime.   Also pardoned was John Allen Aregood, convicted of a felony for hiring undocumented workers to harvest watermelons. A Mary Aregood, at the same Texas address, also contributed to Bush.

Bush reversed a decision to pardon Brooklyn developer Isaac Toussie after it was reported that his father gave $28,500 to the Republican Party in April. Toussie was convicted in 2003 of making false statements to HUD and of mail fraud.  

Others pardoned by Bush included a variety of drug dealers, embezzlers and forgers, bringing to 199 the number of people he has pardoned or granted clemency to during his eight-year term. 

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.