Jan 16, 2009 9:47am
Some Thoughts on Holder and the FALN
EmailJoseph Connor, whose father was killed by a bombing the Puerto Rican terrorist group FALN claimed credit for, takes issue with former President Clinton’s granting of clemency to members of the group — supported by President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee to be attorney general, Eric Holder, when he was deputy AG — in an op-ed in today’s Los Angeles Times.
During yesterday’s confirmation hearing, Holder said that Clinton granting clemency was "reasonable" since those FALN members released had not been officially tied to violent acts that harmed anyone, though that has been disputed by some in the FBI.
– jpt
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Hmmmm! Mr. Holder is still dishonest.
Posted by: anonymous | January 16, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
And can we forget the Clinton pardons of the Weather Underground convicts.
Also, he admits that the Marc Rich pardon was a MISTAKE. In that political contributions by the Rich’s trumped impartiality in the AG’s office.
In Alberto Gonzalex’ case politicizing th AGs office was a firing offense. Here, Holder is being rewarded for it.
This is hope ans change. A tax cheat and someone who sold pardons to the highest bidder.
It’s pretty sad and shocking.
Posted by: JAZ, NY, NY | January 16, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
chirp chirp …. crickets.
Posted by: Omentum | January 16, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
What did you want us to say Omentum- the situation is obvious.
The Holder Memo worked to prevent the right to attorney for American citizens.
But he is for a fair trail in US Courts for non-citizen terrorists.
Followed by a pardon.
Posted by: BertieW | January 16, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Holder is concerned about waterboarding terrorist – I can see why now – he just likes to pardon them
Posted by: jamescbuilder | January 16, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am
The FALN members had been imprisoned for about 20 years when they received their commutation from Clinton. They weren’t convicted of a crime which injured others, but for sedition and conspiracy. Around 1996, there were massive demonstrations in Puerto Rico for their release. In 1999, Clinton offered clemency on condition that the members renounce violence based on the appeals of 10 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Jimmy Carter, the cardinal of NY, and the archbishop of Puerto Rico. According to CNN, they were released on September 10, 1999 after renouncing violence. I’m not advocating anything actually, just adding some facts to a one sided presentation.
Posted by: kat | January 16, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
“In 1999, Clinton offered clemency on condition that the members”
support his wife’s Senate bid in New York.
Posted by: BertieW | January 16, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Mr. Connor, whose testimony was very impressive, stated that the Cardinal in New York did not support the FALN pardons. Mr. Holder claimed that the Cardinal did support the FALN pardons.
Is there a clear record of the Cardinal’s point of view?
Obviously if the Cardinal did not support the pardon, would not Mr. Holder be guilty of not telling the truth to the Senate Committee?
Could ABC News or some news organization get to the bottom of this?
Posted by: Howard Pripas | January 17, 2009, 2:15 am 2:15 am