Bernie Sanders has asked Sheikh Barack Obama to pardon convicted terrorist, Oscar López Rivera, whom Sanders calls a political prisoner, who has been in prison longer than any political prisoner in history, including Nelson Mandela.
“We are talking about a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star. I say to President Obama — let him out!”
What he failed to say about Rivera is that he was a leader of the FALN terrorist group.
The conservative City Journal, taking issue with the left’s argument that Rivera is some kind of harmless nationalist because he was not nailed for actual killings, noted he “was convicted of numerous felonies, including possession of an unregistered firearm; interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit seditious conspiracy, and interference with interstate commerce by use of violence; interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle; conspiracy to escape, to transport explosives with the intent to kill and injure people, and to destroy government buildings and property; aiding and abetting travel in interstate commerce to carry out arson; and using a telephone to carry out arson.”
Here is the list of his crimes:
NAME: Oscar López-Rivera
The President commuted the sentence of Mr. López-Rivera, arising from two prosecutions, from a total effective sentence of seventy (70) years’ imprisonment to a total effective sentence of imprisonment of forty-four (44) years, five (5) months, and four (4) days. The sentence in only one case was commuted.
Offense for which Seditious conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 2384; interference with
sentence was commuted: interstate commerce by threats or violence, 18 U.S.C. § 1951; possession of an unregistered firearm, 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d); carrying firearms during the commission of seditious conspiracy and interference with interstate commerce by violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(b); interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit seditious conspiracy and interference with interstate commerce by violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, 18 U.S.C. § 2312
Date and District: August 11, 1981; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: Total effective sentence of 55 years’ imprisonment
Offense for which Conspiracy to escape, to transport explosives with intent to
sentence was not commuted: kill and injure people, and to destroy government buildings and property, 18 U.S.C. § 371 and § 1952(a)(3); aiding and abetting travel in interstate commerce to carry on arson, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1952(a)(3); using a telephone to carry on arson, 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(3)
Date and District: February 26, 1988; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: Total effective sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, consecutive to his earlier sentence
Bill Clinton awarded clemency to 14 members of the FALN in 1999. Rivera was also offered clemency. All he had to do was denounce violence and promise not to build and set off any bombs. He refused.
What could possibly go wrong by pardoning him?