Carlos Vignali
Encyclopedia
Carlos Anibal Vignali had his federal prison sentence commuted by President of the United States
Bill Clinton
just prior to leaving office, as a part of a group of commutations and pardons
. At the time, he was serving the 6th of 15 years in prison for organized cocaine
trafficking. Carlos Vignali's attorney during his trial and sentencing was prominent Minnesota attorney, Ronald I. Meshbesher
.
The sentence commutation, often mistakenly referred to as a "pardon," was controversial because there are claims that it was a consequence of Carlos's father, Horacio Carlos Vignali's, monetary contributions to politicians such as Antonio Villaraigosa
, Robert Hertzberg
and Xavier Becerra
, who in turn petitioned Clinton for the younger Vignali's release. However, Clinton's sentence commutation was ostensibly motivated by the harsh minimum sentencing for drug related offences as part of the War on Drugs
, but it is claimed that Carlos A. Vignali was a relatively big offender who was probably less deserving of a pardon than many other convicted persons who are not as well connected.http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/02/14/vignali/ Vignali's father possesses large holdings of commercial real estate in Downtown Los Angeles
, and Vignali today is active in his father's real estate businesses.
Villaraigosa's petitioning Clinton for Vignali's release was used against him successfully by James K. Hahn as an issue in the 2001 Los Angeles
mayoral election. Hahn attempted to use the issue again in the 2005 mayoral election against both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg in the primaries, and against Villaraigosa in the runoff, but was unable to use this issue for political gain again and lost the election.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
just prior to leaving office, as a part of a group of commutations and pardons
Bill Clinton pardons controversy
President Bill Clinton was criticized for some of his pardons and acts of executive clemency. While most presidents grant pardons on several days throughout their terms, Clinton chose to make most of them on January 20, 2001. Collectively, the controversy surrounding these actions has sometimes...
. At the time, he was serving the 6th of 15 years in prison for organized cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
trafficking. Carlos Vignali's attorney during his trial and sentencing was prominent Minnesota attorney, Ronald I. Meshbesher
Ronald I. Meshbesher
Ronald I. Meshbesher is a prominent trial attorney and President of The Minnesota law firm Meshbesher & Spence. Mr. Meshbesher began practicing law at the age of twenty-four in the Hennepin County Attorney's Office as a prosecutor, where he tried forty-five felony cases in his first three years...
.
The sentence commutation, often mistakenly referred to as a "pardon," was controversial because there are claims that it was a consequence of Carlos's father, Horacio Carlos Vignali's, monetary contributions to politicians such as Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
, Robert Hertzberg
Robert Hertzberg
Robert Myles Hertzberg served as Speaker of the California State Assembly. He was twice elected unanimously Speaker of the State Assembly, and served two terms. In the State Assembly, he represented more than 400,000 constituents in the San Fernando Valley communities of Los Angeles...
and Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Los Angeles.-Early life, education and career:...
, who in turn petitioned Clinton for the younger Vignali's release. However, Clinton's sentence commutation was ostensibly motivated by the harsh minimum sentencing for drug related offences as part of the War on Drugs
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
, but it is claimed that Carlos A. Vignali was a relatively big offender who was probably less deserving of a pardon than many other convicted persons who are not as well connected.http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/02/14/vignali/ Vignali's father possesses large holdings of commercial real estate in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, and Vignali today is active in his father's real estate businesses.
Villaraigosa's petitioning Clinton for Vignali's release was used against him successfully by James K. Hahn as an issue in the 2001 Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
mayoral election. Hahn attempted to use the issue again in the 2005 mayoral election against both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg in the primaries, and against Villaraigosa in the runoff, but was unable to use this issue for political gain again and lost the election.
External links
- Another pardon that stinks - Article in Salon.comSalon.comSalon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
about Clinton's pardons and the commutation of Carlos A. Vignali's sentence. - Unpardonable Disparities - Article from Fairness and Accuracy in ReportingFairness and Accuracy in ReportingFairness & Accuracy In Reporting is a progressive media criticism organization based in New York City, founded in 1986.FAIR describes itself on its website as "the national media watch group" and defines its mission as working to "invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity...
arguing that Clinton's pardons received much more criticism than the pardons granted by George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
, even though the Bush pardons were just as questionable. - http://www.laweekly.com/news/features/las-underground-power-broker/619/?page=1 "L.A.'s Underground Power Broker" (May 2005, L.A. Weekly)
- Larry King Live: Were Bill Clinton's Last-Minute Pardons Unpardonable? CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
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