At a Christmas meal for the needy at the Rev. Al Sharpton's Harlem headquarters, Gov. Paterson further discussed his controversial decision to commute the sentence of John White, the Long Island man who was convicted of killing a teenager in a racially-charged 2006 incident. Paterson was widely criticized for not talking with the parents of victim Daniel Cicciaro Jr. before announcing his decision. When he did finally speak to them after the fact, he said he "heard the pain" in mother Joanne Cicciaro's voice: "At times, I must say, in spite of her anger, in spite of her passion, in spite of her absolute gall at hearing what I had done, she and her husband, Mike, were very, very gracious," Paterson said. more ›

Governor Paterson announced today that he would be creating a panel to review the cases of legal immigrants facing deportation due to past convictions. The panel would make recommendations to the Governor's office based on how old or minor the conviction is, or if the applicant had showed signs of rehabilitation. Paterson said in a press release, "We hope this initiative will help set an example for how to soften the blow in those cases of deserving individuals caught in the web of our national immigration laws. We hope it will prove that justice can always find a way." Hmm, wonder who he wants to set an example for... more ›

After New Jersey legalized medical marijuana in January, patients who suffer from chronic illnesses like AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis are getting ready to acquire the drug without fear of imprisonment. But change came too late for multiple sclerosis-sufferer John Wilson, 37, who was sentenced to five years in prison last week for growing 17 marijuana plants and psilocybin mushrooms in his backyard. more ›

Days after Governor Paterson pardoned him for crimes he committed as a youth, Qing Hong Wu was released from a NJ immigration facility—without being told about the pardon. The NY Times reports that since Wu had no cash or a cellphone, he walked from the Port Authority to his cousin's apartment on Spring Street, "It was a great hour. Even though I was tired, I was so happy. I thought immigration made a mistake, so I figured I’d enjoy it before they come and get me." more ›

Yesterday, Governor Paterson announced that he was pardoning a Chinese immigrant who was convicted of muggings when he was 15 but then kept out of trouble and became a successful IT executive. Paterson said, "Qing Hong Wu's case proves that an individual can, with hard work and dedication, rise above past mistakes and turn his life around." The pardon means that Wu, who legally immigrated to NY when he was five, will not be deported back to China. more ›

Gov. Paterson has pardoned a solider whose earlier conviction on gun possession charges barred had barred him from fulfilling his lifelong goal of joining the New York Police Department, the Times reports. In only his second pardon since taking office, Paterson granted clemency to Osvaldo Hernandez — a former paratrooper with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division — who was arrested in 2002 when police found a semiautomatic pistol beneath his car seat. more ›

Yesterday, the country witnessed the dramatic reunion between formerly imprisoned journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling and their families, a reunion orchestrated by former President Bill Clinton, his former Vice President Al Gore, and the White House. Though the White House was working to secure the release of Lee and Ling, Current TV journalists who were sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp by North Korea for illegally entering the country, and had considered envoys like Gore, Bill Richardson, and Senator John Kerry, it turned out that North Korea requested former president Clinton. Lee and Ling, who were being held in a guest house, both told their families in phone calls that North Korea would consider amnesty if "an envoy in the person of President Clinton would agree to come to Pyongyang and seek their release." more ›

After President Bush's reversal of a Brooklyn developer's pardon, the White House said President Bush was unaware the father of the developer, Isaac Toussie, had donated money ot the Republican party. Yet the President did meet Toussie's father, Robert, who is also a developer, earlier this year and the Daily News published a photograph of the two, adding, "It was not immediately clear if the picture was snapped before or after Robert Toussie's $28,500 donation to the Republican National Committee in April." And it's not just the Republicans who have benefited from Robert Toussie's largesse: He's donated to Rep. Anthony Weiner, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, and other elected officials. Toussie and his son face lawsuits, accusing them of using deceptive tactics to sell shoddy homes to homebuyers (many of them minorities). more ›

Some more spinning from the White House after President Bush pardoned a Brooklyn developer—and then rescinded the pardon the next day. White House spokesman Tony Fratto told Newsday that the President "followed the process" when he first granted the parson to Isaac Toussie but decided to reverse the decision after finding out Toussie's father made contributions to the Republican party and politicians, "It [the contributions] had the potential to create at least the appearance of impropriety." more ›

It was a Christmas Eve embarrassment! The White House had to announce that President Bush's previously announced pardon of Brooklyn developer Isaac Toussie would no longer be happening. Funnily enough, the announcement came after it was reported how Toussie's father donated tens of thousands to the Republican party and Republican politicians. Coincidence—or Christmas miracle? One homebuyer who says she was scammed by Toussie said to Newsday, "There is a Santa Claus after all. I couldn't have wished for a better present." more ›

to execute the pardon! Earlier today, Daily News reported Toussie's father "donated $28,500 to the Republican Part this year." And there's a federal lawsuit against Toussie from homebuyers who were apparently duped into buying overpriced, defective homes in bad areas from him, after he used deceptive tactics. Some had given comments like, "The politically connected get what they want, and little people like us are just left to sink or swim. Thanks to the President for the worst Christmas gift you could have ever given us," and "I think Bush stinks anyway," but maybe they'll slightly change their tune now. more ›

So how many years should a police officer spend in jail for sodomizing a handcuffed suspect with a broomstick? Justin Volpe, the cop who was convicted of torturing Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in a Brooklyn precinct in 1997 and who has been behind bars in a federal prison for nearly 12 years without any chance of parole, is petitioning the Justice Department for a reduced sentence. He's currently sentenced to 30 years, but letters from family, friends, and a priest pleading for leniency have been sent with his petition. (In 2004, GQ tagged along with Volpe's father, a retired NYPD cop, during depressing visits with his son.) more ›

Governor David Paterson announced that he was pardoning Ricky Walters, aka hip-hop artist "Slick Rick," for his 1991 attempted murder and weapons convictions. Walters, who was born in the U.K. moved to the Bronx when he was 11 (he lives in the Bronx now), served more than five years in prison but has been threatened with deportation in recent years. more ›