FLANKED BY THE vice president and the attorney general, the president stepped up to the podium. Since his short announcement was on both teleprompters, he could grab the sides of the podium and look natural in front of twenty-plus microphones and even more cameras. Flashes from strobe lights were already averaging more than ten a second.

     “It has come to my attention that an innocent man has been sentenced to ten years in a federal prison. Our justice system isn’t perfect. In this case, in the wake of Bernie Madoff’s confession and conviction, at least one federal prosecutor over-zealously tried to rid Hawaii of others like him.

     “As unpopular as presidential pardons can sometimes be, it has always been my personal belief -- and I would hope that would carry down throughout my administration -- that popularity not be the dictating principle behind justice.

     “Normally, if a jury finds a defendant guilty, that’s good enough for me. But there are times -- and I believe this is one of them -- when a jury is not equipped to see through the complexities of a case -- a factor prosecutors can exploit -- with the result that an innocent person is convicted.

     “This is the unfortunate reality in the case of Dave Ruskjer.

     “Our government has seen fit to provide a mechanism to right this type of wrong in the form of an unconditional presidential pardon. With my signature today, I am granting such a pardon to Mr. Ruskjer.

     From this day forward, he is not to be prosecuted on the same criminal charges or any civil charges related to the same All records are to be expunged. Mr. Ruskjer is free to vote and possess firearms and to enjoy any and all of the other freedoms and privileges he heretofore was privy to.

     “I will not be answering questions at this time. Thank you.”