# Bush Pardon list
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [November 25, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435 "2008-11-25T16:14:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435/61 "2009-01-21T14:28:41Z")
Well, they aren’t getting their jobs back with a felony on their record. Commutation just gets them out of jail early.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435/62 "2009-01-21T14:30:26Z")
> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> Well, they aren’t getting their jobs back with a felony on their record. Commutation just gets them out of jail early.
I know but some were pushing for a full pardon so they can get their jobs back.
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### Author:  [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435/63 "2009-01-21T15:11:45Z")
> [@BJMoose](#):
>
> Is presidential pardon power limited to federal crimes?
>
> This possibility didn’t occur to me until I read this thread. If it _is_ limited, blame my ignorance on an absolute interpretation of the word “absolute”.
Just answered my own question. The exact Constitutional language (Article II, Section 2) is: “…power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States…”. So the power is limited to federal cases.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435/64 "2009-01-21T16:02:38Z")
> [@Digital\_Stimulus](#):
>
> The segment also brought up the fact that at least 3 of the pardoned shared the common traits of being (a) from Texas and (b) convicted of crimes tracing back to the S&L scandal from the '80s. I don’t recall any particular motive spelled out for the coincidence of these pardons, which left me sort of scratching my head. Anyone have any further information?
Bush’s brother Neil was the poster child for those scandals.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-pardon-list/474435/65 "2009-01-21T16:55:35Z")
> [@BJMoose](#):
>
> Is presidential pardon power limited to federal crimes?
Yes.
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