LABJ forum.

Fair Treatment of Milken?

Since being released from prison and paying a billion-dollar fine, financier Michael Milken has spent a great deal of time burnishing his image with a host of philanthropic activities, most notably to support prostate cancer research. But despite Milken's philanthropic largess, former President Bill Clinton chose not to pardon him this month. To some, the decision seemed unfair in light of pardons given out to Susan Rosenberg of the Weather Underground, fugitive financier Marc Rich and ex-Arizona governor J. Fife Symington III, who was facing a retrial on charges of real estate fraud. Though many influential business and political figures supported Milken's request for a pardon, strong opposition from the law enforcement and investment communities won out. The Business Journal asks:

Do you think President Clinton should have pardoned Michael Milken?

Shelley Magoffin

President & CEO Dwyer-Curlett Inc.

No, and when I read about it in the newspaper, my initial reaction was that he shouldn't have pardoned those other people either. They did wrong things. If he pardoned two out of three, he shouldn't have pardoned any of them. Why did those two get pardons? It's not so much that he should have pardoned Michael Milken, it's why did he pardon the other two?

Don Murphy

Director of Marketing Experiant

I don't really have a strong feeling about it. He did break the law, but he has done a lot of positive things since then. I suppose in some ways he's paid his penance -- he spent time in jail and set up the Milken Institute, fighting injustice, and his organization for prostate cancer. To be honest, it really doesn't affect me. My opinions about Bill Clinton or Michael Milken would not be changed based on whether or not he was pardoned.

John Piazza

Public Relations Manager Sony Entertainment Robot America

Obviously, somebody should be commended for all the charity work they've done, but it doesn't seem fair that someone of a certain economic stature would get preferential treatment.

Bill Lear

President Stingray Lighting

No, the man was convicted. And once you're convicted, that should stand. I don't think that just because a President is at the end of his term, he should just pardon anybody. Charity work is a good thing, as long as it's not at somebody else's expense. But where did that money (Milken has given to charity) come from? You can give away all the money you want as long as you get it legally. I guess now he's kind of like Robin Hood in a sense.

Andy Trincia

Senior Vice President Rainmaker Interactive

I think often times it's a good idea to pardon people. Milken has probably paid his dues. I don't know all the names, but he's given a lot of his time and money to charitable organizations, specifically his cancer research funding. And I think that, of all Clinton's pardon candidates, Milken was one who particularly went above and beyond in giving back in many ways. The guy has definitely shown lie has a heart. (His crimes) also happened a long time ago, and though people don't always forget, I think in general it's good to forgive people.