A posthumous pardon request
Here’s a six-letter word rarely associated with the late comedian Lenny Bruce: pardon.
Supporters of Bruce, the foul-mouthed comic convicted of obscenity charges in 1964, have launched a campaign to win him a legal reprieve -- 37 years after his tragic death.
The goal is to “correct a grave injustice -- the prosecution and persecution of comedian Lenny Bruce for nothing more than speaking his mind,” said Ron Collins, co-author of “The Trials of Lenny Bruce: The Fall and Rise of an American Icon.”
A group of lawyers, artists and writers has written to New York Gov. George Pataki, who would have to sign off on a Bruce pardon. A gubernatorial spokeswoman did not return a call for comment.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
