Vietnam vets group asks Obama to also pardon veterans

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

A veteran service organization is asking President Obama to also pardon veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who received a less-than-honorable discharge, after he pardoned former Army private Chelsea Manning.

"As pardons are being issued to people who have been convicted of serious felonies, veterans who served their country in combat wait to be offered the same clemency," said John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America.

With four days left in office, the administration announced Tuesday that it was commuting Manning's sentence, in addition to 208 others, and pardoning 64. Manning was serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified information to Wikileaks. He will be released May 17, seven years after entering prison.

Manning, who is transgender, has reportedly struggled with mental health issues during her incarceration and solitary confinement, including two suicide attempts.

Read more: http://www.thehill.com/policy/defense/314817-vietnam-vets-group-asks-obama-to-also-pardon-veterans

[HoneyBadger]

1. Only one problem

She never got a pardon

[mainer]

2. Are any veterans in need of having their sentences commuted?

I wasn't aware any veterans were serving time in prison for PTSD.

[HassleCat]

3. They seem confused.

Clemency vs. Pardon. The president can ask for a review of bad discharges, but that does not involve either clemency or pardon.

[angrychair]

4. I think they are confused

About what clemency is and is not. She is still considered guilty of her crimes and is still considered a convicted felon, meaning she cannot get a CC license or vote in most states.
All this does is get her out of jail a little early.