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A Certifiable, 100 % Guaranteed Frank Jimenez-Free Post!

"And so this is Christmas. And what have you done?"

Let's see, what's happening.....

Economic crisis not good.

Jobless claims at 26-year high.

Dolphins to somehow blow playoff chances.

Frank Jimenez does a mitzvah.

Shoot! I was almost there!

Oh hail:

A Miami man imprisoned more than a half-century ago for his help flying weapons to the Jews who fought to create Israel received a posthumous presidential pardon Tuesday.

Charles Winters died in 1984 at age 71, a hero in Israel but a quiet family man to those who knew him in South Florida. His was only the second posthumous pardon in U.S. history.

Winters' pardon was one of 19 that President George W. Bush approved in the final weeks of his administration.

Two other Florida men were pardoned as well: Steve Doyle Cavender of The Villages, sentenced in 1973 on marijuana charges; and Richard Harold Miller of Tallahassee, sentenced in 1993 for conspiracy to defraud.

But it was Winters' story -- a Boston Protestant who aided his Jewish friends and served 18 months in prison for it -- that drew support from Republicans, Democrats and even film mogul Steven Spielberg.

''There are probably many unsung heroes of America and of Israel, but Charlie Winters is surely of them,'' Spielberg's letter said. ``While a pardon cannot make Charlie Winters whole, and regrettably he did not live to see it, it would be a fitting tribute to his memory and a great blessing to his family if this pardon is granted.''

Afterward, Winters' son, Jimmy, called the moment amazing.

''I was just in awe that it actually had happened,'' Jimmy Winters said.

It was Jimmy Winters, 44, who began the pardon campaign with the help of childhood friend Frank Jimenez, now the U.S. Navy's general counsel, who has been mentioned as a possible appointee to the Florida Supreme Court.

Well, I'm gonna just have to try again.

Full post as published by South Florida Lawyers on December 24, 2008 (boomark / email).