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Bush bids farewell with clemency Bush bids farewell with clemency
(20 minutes later)
In one of his final acts as president, George W Bush has commuted the prison sentences of two US border patrol agents who shot an unarmed Mexican man.In one of his final acts as president, George W Bush has commuted the prison sentences of two US border patrol agents who shot an unarmed Mexican man.
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in jail respectively for the 2005 shooting of a drug smuggler at the border.Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in jail respectively for the 2005 shooting of a drug smuggler at the border.
The sentences were widely criticised as unduly harsh. They pair are now due to be freed in March. The sentences were widely criticised as unduly harsh. The pair are now due to be freed in March.
The decision was welcomed in Congress both by Democrats and Republicans.The decision was welcomed in Congress both by Democrats and Republicans.
Supporters of the two men argued that the pair had only been carrying out their duty when they shot self-confessed drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled from a van-load of marijuana at the Texas-Mexico border.Supporters of the two men argued that the pair had only been carrying out their duty when they shot self-confessed drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila in the buttocks as he fled from a van-load of marijuana at the Texas-Mexico border.
The border agents said at their trials that they believed he was armed.The border agents said at their trials that they believed he was armed.
Final clemencyFinal clemency
Mr Bush did not pardon the men but instead reduced their sentences because he believed they received a fair trial and that the verdict was just, but that the sentences were excessive, a White House official said.Mr Bush did not pardon the men but instead reduced their sentences because he believed they received a fair trial and that the verdict was just, but that the sentences were excessive, a White House official said.
The acts of clemency are expected to be the last of Mr Bush's presidency, ahead of Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.The acts of clemency are expected to be the last of Mr Bush's presidency, ahead of Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.
No pardon has been granted for Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney who was convicted of lying to a grand jury investigating the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.No pardon has been granted for Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney who was convicted of lying to a grand jury investigating the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.
President Bush commuted Libby's 30-month sentence in 2007.President Bush commuted Libby's 30-month sentence in 2007.
In his two terms in the White House, Mr Bush has granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations of sentences.In his two terms in the White House, Mr Bush has granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations of sentences.
By comparison, Bill Clinton granted more than 450 and Ronald Reagan 406 during their two terms in the White House.By comparison, Bill Clinton granted more than 450 and Ronald Reagan 406 during their two terms in the White House.
Mr Bush also spent part of his last full day in the White House making farewell calls to international leaders including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a White House spokesman said.Mr Bush also spent part of his last full day in the White House making farewell calls to international leaders including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a White House spokesman said.