President Obama commutes sentences of 214 people, most issued by president in single day since 1900

[Hissyspit]

Source: NBC News / Buzzfeed

@BreakingNews: President Obama commutes sentences of 214 people, most issued by president in single day since 1900 - BuzzFeed News https://t.co/ch88VFG0Bv/s/3e2P

POLITICS
Obama Commutes Sentences Of More Than 200 People Serving Federal Sentences

“We’re going to keep our foot on the gas pedal when it comes to reviewing applications for clemency,” White House counsel Neil Eggleston says. President Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 people.

Originally posted on August 3, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.
Updated on August 3, 2016, at 1:41 p.m.

Chris Geidner
BuzzFeed News Reporter
WASHINGTON — President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 people serving federal sentences on Wednesday — the most commutations issued by a president in a single day since at least 1900 — White House officials told BuzzFeed News.

The commutations are the latest in a series of such reprieves issued by Obama after announcing his support in 2014 for a clemency review process to address those serving harsh sentences that they would not be subject to if convicted today. The Clemency Project has led Obama to to grant a series of such commutations beginning in July 2015.

"This is a good day — not just for the 214 individuals who are getting a hard-earned second chance, but for the people at the White House and the Department of Justice and at advocacy organizations across the country who work every day to remedy injustices in our sentencing laws,” White House counsel Neil Eggleston told BuzzFeed News. “We're going to keep our foot on the gas pedal when it comes to reviewing applications for clemency, but we are also going to need leaders in both parties in Congress to pass long overdue reforms to our criminal justice system to achieve lasting change on the scale that is needed."

Sixty-seven of Wednesday's commutations are for people serving life sentences – almost all, per the White House, for nonviolent drug crimes. A quick review of the full list of commutations provided to BuzzFeed News appears to show that the same holds true for the vast majority of the underlying offenses involved in the other commutations as well.

Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/obama-commutes-sentences-of-more-than-200-people-serving-fed?utm_term=.kyovoyPLE#.fl8gbJ0ZP

[mahannah]

1. Leonard Peltier

[geardaddy]

8. +1

[catchnrelease]

14. I looked for his name first. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

19. Absolutely. n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

2. Don Siegelman

[barbtries]

5. yep. my first thought.

[Gorgatron]

12. Mine as well.... Its a shame

[robertpaulsen]

3. Chelsea Manning

[secondwind]

4. I sure hope Bob Riley, 62, is one of them.. he is doing LIFE in a LA prison for mailing a small

amount of LSD to a friend. Has been in jail for decades...

[cannabis_flower]

7. Is he in federal prison or state

Obama can only commute federal prisoners. I didn't see him on the list.

[hack89]

9. He is in Federal Prison

http://clemencyreport.org/bob-riley-62-gentle-deadhead-serving-a-life-sentence-for-lsd/

[Earth_First]

18. Ive witten back and forth with Bob in the past...

He's an awfully kind heated, optimistic man.

If we are commuting sentences for non violent crimes, Bob needs to be at the top of this list!

[YOHABLO]

23. That is so wrong. And not one bankster has gone to jail for destroying people's lives.

[cannabis_flower]

6. Here's the full list

http://pix11.com/2016/08/03/complete-list-of-214-federal-prisoners-granted-commutation-by-pres-obama/

[colsohlibgal]

10. Please get to Chelsea and Don

I cannot believe Obama has not freed Siegelman and Ms Manning should be freed immediately as well.

And that's just a start. There are still loads of people in prison who do not belong there.

[Arazi]

11. All non violent drug offenders should be released immediately

from all federal prisons.

Obama won't do it but damn well should

[AllyCat]

13. Is one of them Don Siegelman?

[Hissyspit]

16. No.

[INdemo]

17. Now that is BS..that is sympethizing with Karl Rove by not releasing

Siegelman

Shame on you Obama

[FighttheFuture]

20. Excellent question! If he were to do that, I suspect it will be after the election

so as not to provide another R talking point. I hope he does. Don is a miscarriage of justice. Like something you would see under Trump.

[Hekate]

15. Remember that bucket list? Obama is very busy these days.

[lostnfound]

21. Who would rump pardon? Dylan Roof? Men who kill wives?

I'd be scared to see that.

[raven mad]

22. As usual, my President is awesome. n/t