Lawmakers seek pardon for Idaho soldier

BOISE – A senator and a representative from Idaho have sent letters to President Bush asking him to pardon an Idaho soldier convicted earlier this year of unpremeditated murder while on a mission in Iraq.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, both Republicans, sent the letters last week.

Sgt. Evan Vela, a 24-year-old U.S. Army sniper, was convicted in February and sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing an unarmed Iraqi civilian who stumbled upon him and five other soldiers sleeping on May 11, 2007.

Vela also was convicted of planting an AK-47 on the dead man’s body and of lying to military investigators.

“I am concerned that he is … playing the role of scapegoat for following orders throughout a series of tragic events that occurred during a time of war,” Simpson wrote.