Obama Commutes Sentences for Eight Drug Convictions

Said they were "unduly harsh"

President Barack Obama is commuting the sentences of eight people he said were serving unduly harsh sentences for drug crimes.

Obama has commuted only one other sentence in the five years of his presidency.

The president signed the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010 to reduce penalties for crack cocaine offenses in order to reduce the disparity with powder cocaine penalties. But the act addressed only new cases, not old ones.