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Published Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

Wen Ho Lee should have been pardoned

BY DENNIS ROCKSTROH - Mercury News

Pardon me. But did I miss something?

A storm of outrage—no, make that a season of outrage—is upon us for the flood of presidential pardons issued by Bill Clinton. The president, in his last days in office, pardoned a vast array of wrongdoers, which is his right. He stirred up much controversy.

So whatever happened to Wen Ho Lee, the fired nuke weapons scientist who a federal judge admitted was mightily wronged by the feds? That's what Cecilia Chang of Fremont is wondering.

So far no one's been able to pin a major crime on Lee. He was, however, apparently sloppy with our nation's secrets. As was former CIA director John Deutch, who kept classified government information on his home computer. Deutch got a presidential pardon. Wen Ho Lee didn't.

"Equal treatment under the law is a hollow promise when it come to John Deutch vs. Wen Ho Lee," said Chang, a Fremont human relations commissioner. She's also executive director of WenHoLee.org, the national organization formed to defend the scientist who is free after a plea bargain.

Chang said she and the other Lee defenders have gathered 3,000 signatures on a petition calling for an investigation by a bipartisan commission and a pardon for Lee.

Now it's up to George W. Bush.

"We're not giving up," Chang said.

Click here if you wish to sign a petition for a presidential pardon for Wen Ho Lee.

When you are taken to the Pardon page, scroll down to COMMENT and click on the word REPLY. A pop up window will open, add your name, city state and zip inside the comment box as well as any comments. Thanks.

Cecilia Lee Chang
Executive Director
WenHoLee.org
P.O. Box 120
Fremont, CA 94537
E-mail: Wen Ho Lee Mail
Website: Wen Ho Lee Website

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