Last week, before clearing himself and his family out of the White House for summer vacation, President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 nonviolent drug offenders, 56 of whom had been convicted of firearms violations as well. That single day’s work brought the president’s total number of commutations to 562 … so far.
The effort to empty out the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is going strong as well. Half of the prisoners remaining who have not been charged with war crimes recently were cleared for transfer.
Nearly half of remaining Guantanamo detainees slated for transfer, Pentagon says https://t.co/dBzbBWnjeC pic.twitter.com/Rxe6BmYNDd
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 6, 2016
Fox News reports that, according to statistics from the Director of National Intelligence, “nearly 30 percent of those who have been released have returned to the battlefield or have been suspected of doing so.” Whether those sent to host countries will be imprisoned or free to roam about depends on the deal struck with each country, and “the details of the terms of each transfer with other nations remain a secret.”
Reporter Carol Rosenberg covers Guantanamo Bay for the Miami Herald.
BREAKING: With latest parole board decision, half of Guantánamo’s uncharged captives are OK’d to go. https://t.co/kll9hUzubX
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) August 1, 2016
From last night: Half of Guantánamo’s uncharged captives are now cleared to go, most to resettlement nations. https://t.co/kll9hUhSNn
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) August 2, 2016
Of 76 remaining captives, 33 are cleared to go? Make that 34.
Just in: Gitmo parole panel clears Yemeni Hayl Aziz al Maythali — 34th of prison's last 79 captives now good to go. https://t.co/VRQMQADkjY
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) August 4, 2016
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On January 22, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order requiring closure of the Guantanamo detention center within one year. As his second term approaches its end, he has stepped up efforts to make good on that promise, including establishing a team to search for a site in the United States to house the remainder of the prisoners held in Cuba — something that has not gone over well with governors of those states in consideration or with House Speaker Paul Ryan.
The president's proposal to close #Gitmo is a textbook example of the admin prioritizing politics over security. https://t.co/hsdOR3IxLk
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 6, 2016
Related:
‘No one saw this coming!’ Recently released Gitmo detainees have reportedly joined ISIS
‘Leading WITH your behind’: John Kerry unleashes ‘mother of all facepalms’ about Gitmo recidivist
Brad Thor has an unsettling reminder about the Gitmo recidivism rate
Stephen Hayes blasts Obama for ‘breathtaking dishonesty’ on Guantanamo Bay recidivism
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