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WorldCom ex-chief begs pardon from Bush

By Aaron Siegel

December 4, 2008 3:14 pm ET

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.

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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.

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.

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