Obama Sets Record for Most
Clemency Acts In Single Day, "I believe these folks deserve
their second chance." by Randy DeSoto,
12/19/16
President Obama on Monday pardoned 78
people and commuted the sentences of 153 others, setting a record for the
most acts of clemency by a president on a single day in U.S. history.
White House Counsel Neil Eggleston
explained in a statement, “Today’s acts of clemency and
the mercy the President has shown his 1,324 clemency recipients exemplify his
belief that America is a nation of second chances. The 231 individuals granted
clemency today have all demonstrated that they are ready to make use or
have already made use of a second chance.”
According to the attorney, Obama to date
has commuted the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 life sentences, and
granted a total of 148 pardons. The latter total has him still pacing
behind his recent two-term predecessors for pardons, but far-and-away ahead in
the number of commutations.
A commutation changes the sentence but
does not wipe away the criminal record for the criminal offense committed,
while a pardon does. According to the Justice Department, Ronald Reagan granted 393 pardons,
Bill Clinton, 396, and George W. Bush, 189.
Obama stated this summer that his
clemency program is aimed at commuting the sentences of those criminals who are
in jail under tougher sentencing guidelines than currently exist (such as the
“three strikes” laws), including particularly those whose main underlying
offense was drug-related.
The Washington Post notes that the Obama administration is
working with the Clemency Project 2014, a consortium of four groups that is
supplying lawyers to work pro bono to review all the tens of thousands of
applicants. For those considered deserving, petitions are prepared by the
lawyers and sent to the Department of Justice for review. Those deemed worthy
by DOJ are then referred to White House counsel, who make the final
recommendations to the president.
“These men and women were not hardened criminals,”
Obama said this summer. “But the overwhelming majority had to be sentenced to
at least 20 years. I believe that at its heart, America’s a nation of
second chances. And I believe these folks deserve their second chance.”
Each of the inmates whose sentence has
been reduced receives a letter from the
president. In it, Obama
indicates only a “small fraction” of the applicants were granted the
opportunity they are receiving, encouraging them to use it wisely. He writes:
I am granting
your application because you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life
around. Now it is up to you to make the most of this opportunity. It will not
be easy, and you will confront many who doubt people with criminal records can
change. Perhaps even you are unsure of how you will adjust to your new
circumstances. But remember
that you have the capacity to make good choices…I believe in your ability to prove
the doubters wrong, so good luck and Godspeed.
Sen. Jeff
Sessions, R-Ala.,
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, in 2014 called Obama’s clemency initiative “an
alarming abuse of the pardon power.” Former President Bill Clinton was highly
criticized for a slew of 140 pardons issued on his final day in office,
including fugitive Marc Rich, whose wife contributed significantly to the
Clintons.
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