1.   And other presidents, notably George Bush, handed out controversial pardons in the waning hours of their administrations.

2.   At his first news conference, the new President Bush sidestepped several opportunities to criticize Clinton for the controversial pardons.

3.   He has not returned to the United States, despite his controversial presidential pardon.

4.   It languished until this year when Congress began investigating a series of controversial pardons that Bill Clinton issued during his final days in office.

5.   President Bush issued controversial pardons to several key figures implicated in the Iran-contra scandal during the Reagan administration, and Nixon pardoned labor leader Jimmy Hoffa.

6.   The most controversial pardons tend to be the last minute ones.

7.   Plus, Clinton said he stood by his controversial pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich.

8.   A leader of the regime, Ieng Sary, is negotiating peace with the government and last week received a controversial pardon from King Norodom Sihanouk.

9.   Previous presidents have saved controversial pardons for their final weeks in office because it reduces the ensuing political heat.

10.   Previous presidents have saved controversial pardons for their final weeks in office because it lowers the ensuing political heat.