Former Olympic athlete Marion Jones has been sentenced to prison for perjury in regard to the matter of her use of performance enhancing substances. Former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, was sentenced to prison for perjury in regard to his involvement in the matter of the outing of CIA agent Valarie Plame. The Libby case still has national security ramifications, while the Jones case never has.
Mr. Libby was pardoned by the compassionate President George W. Bush … who still has 373 days left in office. Mr. Libby will not have to go to prison for perjury.
Ms. Jones has two children from whom she will be separated while her sentence is carried out.
If I may paraphrase President Ronald Reagan when he challenged Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to “… tear down this wall”: Mr. Bush, tear down the wall that would separate Ms. Jones from her children by issuing her a pardon.
It would seem to be the compassionate thing to do.
David N. Houghtaling
Everett
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