woodbutcher

Pres. Bush pardon:

The pardon for Charles Winters, who died in 1984, was sought by his son Jim, as well as the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

Winters, a Protestant from Boston, was originally convicted of conspiring to export military aircraft to a foreign country in violation of the Neutrality Act of 1939, which prohibited U.S. nationals from getting in the middle of armed conflicts abroad without express presidential permission.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine in 1949.

Winters was convicted for his role in providing aircraft to Jewish armed forces during the 1948 war for independence in Israel. Two others, Herman Greenspun and Al Schwimmer, also were convicted but did not serve time. They were later granted presidential pardons.

In an August letter to the Department of Justice signed by 21 members of Congress, the representatives urged the administration to grant the posthumous pardon to Winters to "correct the injustice that has been done."

"Mr. Winters' actions helped secure the independence of the state of Israel," the representatives wrote in the letter. They said Israel "may not have survived" without the actions of Winters and others who provided aid to the emerging nation.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., who worked with Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., on the Winters request, released a statement saying the pardon was "long overdue."

"This is a great day for Charles Winters' family and for champions of the freedom of Israel," Mack said. "The work that Charles Winters did to promote freedom, security and peace in Israel will leave a lasting impact on the nation and her people."