Believe it or not, but we saw exactly this coming yesterday when we heard that President Obama was getting ready to hop on Air Force One for a 10-day tour, beginning with a stop in Hawaii.
Lately, it seems whenever the president is packing to leave the Oval Office for a few days, he likes to check off a few items on his to-do list, and perched at the top of that list is commuting sentences.
You might remember that the president commuted the sentences of 214 convicts at the beginning of this month — right before leaving town for his two-week family vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. And last December, he granted 100 commutations just before taking off for his family vacation in Hawaii.
The president wasn’t quite a generous this time around, signing only 111 commutations. Still, that number brings his total to 673 — more than granted by the last 10 presidents combined.
Pres Obama grants another 111 commutations of sentence to federal inmates, largely for non-violent drug offenses. Brings total to 673.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
Pres Obama has granted more commutations (673) than previous ten Presidents combined, but fewest pardons (70) since Pres Garfield.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
Shocking? Not in the least…. he's been unleashing hell on this country ever since he took office. #GoOutWithABang
— Colorado RedTraci (@goptraci) August 30, 2016
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Like last time, among those non-violent prisoners who were jailed “mostly” on drug-related crimes were more than a few with firearms violations as well.
Of the 111 commutations, 16 went to individuals also convicted on firearms charges, mostly unlawful possession.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
Again, could someone explain how the Democrat hysteria over background checks squares with their support of the early release of felons who were caught with firearms while trafficking in drugs?
WH Counsel Neil Eggleston: commutations mostly go to non-violent drug offenders who "received unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
Of 111 commutations today, 35 go to felons serving life sentences. Eggleston says they "provide a second chance to deserving individuals."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
There’s a list of those who received commutations on the White House website, but you’ll have to read the release that accompanied the president’s previous round of commutations for the heart-warming comments by White House counsel Neil Eggleston on these criminals being given the opportunity to “once again attend a loved one’s birthday party, walk their child to school, or simply go to the grocery store.”
While the press frets over a possible Trump dictatorship, consider once again what’s going on here. These criminals were arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced according to law.
But because he believes those laws are “outdated” and the sentences “unduly harsh” — and the racial makeup of the prison population skewed (see above) — the president is taking the initiative to shorten them himself by the hundreds, adding as an afterthought the suggestion that Congress enact criminal justice reform that mirrors his vision of fairness.
Pres Obama again urging Congress to enact criminal justice reform including an end to excessive mandatory minimum sentences, says Eggleston.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 30, 2016
Related:
President commutes sentences of 214 nonviolent drug offenders, 50+ with firearms violations https://t.co/8VG3DjZP8T
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 4, 2016
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