We Beg Your Pardon

By Amanda Bower, Randy Hartwell, Ellin Martens, Julie Rawe, Joel Stein, Chris Taylor, Mitch Frank and Josh Tyrangiel

While George W. Bush attended church, Bill Clinton kept working, pardoning 140 Americans only two hours before leaving office. One surprise--Clinton cleared ex-CIA Director John Deutch, who faced possible charges of mishandling national secrets. But some clemency seekers will have to wait for the next change of power.

PARDONED

SUSAN MCDOUGAL Ex-wife of Arkansas con man Jim McDougal went to jail for 18 months rather than cooperate with Ken Starr's Whitewater investigation. She was seen by Clinton as the victim of overzealous federal prosecution.

HENRY CISNEROS Former Housing Secretary lied to the FBI about how much money he paid his mistress to keep their relationship quiet--a crime of private passion with which Clinton might have identified.

ROGER CLINTON President's prodigal half-brother gets last-minute pardon for a 1985 drug conviction. As Governor, Bill Clinton had to authorize the sting operation that sent Roger to prison.

PATTY HEARST Kidnap victim and member of the Symbionese Liberation Army was convicted of armed robbery, and is now a regular on the celebrity circuit.

NOT PARDONED

MICHAEL MILKEN 1980s junk-bond king, who has already spent time in prison, campaigned for a pardon, but enemies and victims resisted. White House officials say he never had much of a chance, but they didn't want to rule a pardon out in case someone convinced Clinton.

LEONARD PELTIER Easiest pardon to refuse. Though Native American groups and celebrity advocates made lots of noise, he is in prison, serving consecutive life sentences for murdering two FBI agents. End of discussion.

JONATHAN POLLARD Former Navy analyst who sold U.S. military secrets to Israel. Some American Jews have pushed for Pollard to be freed, but national-security figures like CIA Director George Tenet have fought that vigorously.

WEBSTER HUBBELL A tough call. Squeezed hard by Ken Starr but convicted of bilking Rose Law firm out of thousands. The right would have howled.