Bush Pardons 29 Convicts - But Not Cheney's Former Top Aide

WASHINGTON — President Bush granted pardons yesterday to carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner, and an election-laws violator but not to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his vice president's former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative. In all, Mr. Bush pardoned 29 convicts and reduced the prison sentence of one more in the end-of-the-year presidential tradition.

A Justice Department spokesman, Erik Ablin, said Mr. Bush has granted 142 pardons and commuted five sentences since taking office in 2001 — lagging far behind the pace set by most modern presidents. Mr. Bush was not expected to issue any more pardons this year.

In July, Mr. Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2 year sentence, sparing Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff from serving any prison time after being convicted of perjury and obstructing justice.