Alejandro Mayorkas lobbied for commutation for drug dealer (Clinton)

Josh Meyer of the Los Angeles Times looks into the background of Alejandro Mayorkas - recently nominated to head the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - here. For an unknown reason, they aren't trying to completely sugarcoat his past, subheding the article "The former U.S. attorney played a role in a 2001 decision by President Clinton to commute a drug dealer's prison sentence":

Mayorkas also was one of several prominent Southern California political figures who played a role in a 2001 decision by President Clinton to commute a drug dealer's prison sentence... Mayorkas later admitted phoning the White House counsel's office at the urging of the elder Vignali... A subsequent congressional investigation criticized Mayorkas, saying it was improper for a senior law enforcement official to be lobbying for such a commutation, especially for someone convicted in another district.

In his defense, he says he didn't do his due diligence. And, if that's not enough, "I made a mistake". Someone from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics is quoted as asking for a better explanation.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 02:28 · · Importance: 4