Clinton Heeded Opposition to Leniency Offer

The White House said Friday that the president had “taken into consideration” the opposition of U.S. law enforcement officials before conditionally offering to commute the prison sentences of members of a Puerto Rican nationalist group.

The White House has come under sharp criticism for the decision, particularly from Republicans, who charged that the president was currying favor with Puerto Rican voters in New York, where First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is all but an officially declared candidate for the U.S. Senate.

On Aug. 11, Clinton said that he would pardon the 16 members of the Puerto Rican independence group the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN in its Spanish acronym) if they renounce violence. Most have been charged with firearms violations and have spent nearly 20 years in prison under sentences of 50 years and more.

Those offered clemency were not directly involved in attacks that killed six people and wounded dozens, including some New York police officers. But none of the 16 so far has accepted the president’s offer.

At issue Friday was whether the president had ignored recommendations of law enforcement officials opposed to any release of the FALN members. The New York Times reported Friday that the officials unanimously opposed leniency, saying that they were “stupefied” and “outraged” by the decision.

But the White House said that the president was well aware of their views when he sided with humanitarians who urged leniency.

“All views were considered and presented to the president fully and completely,” White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said. “The president balanced all of the views that were presented to him and made a decision that reflects that balance of a conditional offer to commute the sentences.”