Bernard Ebbers, the imprisoned former chief executive of WorldCom Inc., has joined the line of imprisoned former corporate executives who have filed a petition seeking a pardon from President Bush.
In 2005, Mr. Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the $11 billion accounting fraud that drove the communications giant into bankruptcy in 2002.
He has been serving that sentence in a Louisiana federal prison since September 2006.
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WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy in 2004 under the name MCI Inc. and was later acquired by Verizon Communications Inc. of New York.
Other major executives seeking a pardon include publishing giant Conrad Black and former financier Michael Milken.
Mr. Black is seeking a commutation of his prison sentence and Mr. Milken is petitioning for a presidential pardon.
The U.S. Constitution grants presidents the power to grant pardons that erase convictions and shorten prison sentences. Mr. Bush will leave office Jan. 20.
