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Commutations

Trump supporters fighting with police during the Capitol riot | Michael Nigro/Sipa USA/Newscom

Capitol Riot

The Country's Largest Police Union, Which Repeatedly Endorsed Trump, Is Dismayed by His Capitol Riot Pardons

The Fraternal Order of Police mistakenly thought that the president "supports our law enforcement officers" and "has our backs."

Jacob Sullum | 1.22.2025 3:35 PM

Joe Biden and Donald Trump at Trump's second inauguration | CNP/EPA-EFE/Sipa USA/Newscom

Clemency

Biden and Trump Show Presidents How To Abuse Clemency

Biden’s preemptive pardons and Trump’s blanket relief for Capitol rioters both set dangerous precedents.

Jacob Sullum | 1.22.2025 12:01 AM

Trump supporters at the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021 | Shay Horse/Zuma Press/Newscom

Clemency

Trump's Blanket Clemency for Capitol Rioters Excuses Political Violence

The president drew no distinction between people who merely entered the building and people who vandalized it or assaulted police officers.

Jacob Sullum | 1.21.2025 4:55 PM

Ross Ulbricht | freeross.org

Donald Trump

Why Trump Should Keep His Promise To Free Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

A life sentence for facilitating peaceful transactions among consenting adults is hard to fathom, let alone justify.

Jacob Sullum | 1.20.2025 7:00 AM

Joe Biden speaks at a Department of Defense Commander in Chief Farewell Ceremony | Bonnie Cash/Pool via CNP/Polaris/Newscom

Clemency

Biden Has Now Issued Far More Commutations Than Any of His Predecessors

The president's record-shattering clemency actions help ameliorate the damage caused by the draconian drug policies he supported for most of his political career.

Jacob Sullum | 1.17.2025 12:15 PM

Biden | CNP/AdMedia/SIPA/Newscom

Biden Administration

Biden Commutes Nearly All Federal Death Penalty Sentences

Biden preserved the death sentences of three mass murderers but commuted the sentences of 37 other federal death row inmates to life in prison.

C.J. Ciaramella | 12.23.2024 12:56 PM

President Joe Biden peers into the crowd during a campaign speech. | TANNEN MAURY/UPI/Newscom

Biden Administration

Biden Shouldn't Have Commuted the Sentence of a Judge in the 'Kids for Cash' Kickback Scandal 

But that shouldn't detract from the many worthy people who received commutations after spending years on home confinement.

C.J. Ciaramella | 12.13.2024 2:36 PM

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D–Minn.) and other congressional leaders, justice reform advocates, and formerly incarcerated people urge President Joe Biden to use his clemency powers. | Sue Dorfman/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Joe Biden

Biden Faces Mounting Pressure To Clear Federal Death Row and Issue More Commutations After Pardoning His Son

Civil rights groups, law enforcement officials, and religious leaders say Biden needs to use his pardon power to fulfill his campaign promises, not just help his son.

C.J. Ciaramella | 12.10.2024 1:57 PM

Hunter Biden at the White House | Pool/ABACA/Newscom

Clemency

The President Still Has Time To Show His Mercy Extends Beyond His Own Son

The draconian penalties that Hunter Biden escaped affect many people whose fathers cannot save them.

Jacob Sullum | 12.4.2024 12:01 AM

Donald Trump at a NASCAR event | Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AAV/Newscom

Donald Trump

Trump Decries Disproportionate Drug Penalties While Threatening Dealers With Death

The former and possibly future president hopes voters will overlook his incoherence.

Jacob Sullum | 5.29.2024 12:01 AM

Donald Trump commuted Philip Esformes' sentence, but the DOJ is bent on sending him back to prison. | Courtesy of Philip Esformes; U.S. Department of Justice

Clemency

A Post-Clemency Prosecution Shines a Light on a Broken System

Donald Trump commuted Philip Esformes' sentence, but the Justice Department is bent on sending him back to prison.

Jacob Sullum | 7.5.2023 12:01 AM

Donald Trump's bloody anti-drug rhetoric undermines his defense of the sentencing reforms he proudly supported as president. | Julia Nikhinson/CNP/Mega/RSSIL/Newscom

War on Drugs

Trump Can't Decide Whether To Free Drug Dealers or Kill Them

His bloody rhetoric undermines his defense of the sentencing reforms he proudly embraced as president.

Jacob Sullum | 6.28.2023 12:01 AM

Amber McLaughlin is scheduled to be executed in Missouri | Federal Public Defender's Office

Criminal Justice

Amber McLaughlin's Jury Deadlocked—So the Judge Decided She Should Be Executed

Today's scheduled execution is getting attention because she's trans. But the bigger story here is how she was sentenced to die.

Scott Shackford | 1.3.2023 12:30 PM

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown | John Rudoff/Sipa USA/Newscom

Death Penalty

Oregon's Governor Commutes Sentences of All State Death Row Inmates

Brown: “The state should not be in the business of executing people.”

Scott Shackford | 12.14.2022 12:20 PM

Protesters noted that President Joe Biden's marijuana pardons did not free a single federal prisoner. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Marijuana

Biden's Marijuana Pardons Did Not Free a Single Federal Prisoner or Deliver the Expungement He Promised

A protest at the White House calls attention to the thousands of federal cannabis offenders who remain incarcerated.

Jacob Sullum | 10.24.2022 3:20 PM

Joe-Biden-4-25-22-Newscom | Sipa USA/Newscom

Criminal Justice

Biden Begins Using Clemency To Ameliorate the Damage Done by the Draconian Drug Policies He Long Supported

The 75 commutations announced today, while impressive compared to the pitiful records of previous presidents, pale beside a huge backlog of petitions.

Jacob Sullum | 4.26.2022 4:15 PM

polis_1161x653 | Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Commutations

Colorado Gov. Polis Commutes 110-Year Sentence for Trucker in Deadly Crash, Pardons Hundreds of Marijuana Convictions

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos faced harsh punishment under the state’s mandatory minimum sentences for insisting on the right to a trial.

Scott Shackford | 12.31.2021 12:45 PM

Joe-Biden-12-13-21-Newscom | Shawn Thew/Pool via CNP/INSTARimages/Cover Images/Newscom

Clemency

Would an Independent Commission Solve the Clemency Backlog?

A new bill would transfer the review of petitions from the Justice Department to a presidentially appointed board.

Jacob Sullum | 12.15.2021 12:01 AM

BidenTurkey_1161x653 | Samuel Corum/Sipa USA/Newscom

Pardons

Thousands Beg President Joe Biden for Mercy as He Pardons a Couple of Turkeys

The annual photo op takes on cruel undertones as drug offenders continue to suffer under harsh federal prison sentences.

Scott Shackford | 11.23.2021 1:45 PM

juliusjones_1161x653 | Oklahoma State Penitentiary/MEGA / Newscom/GWGLA/Newscom

Death Penalty

Oklahoma's Governor Commutes Julius Jones' Death Sentence, Halting Today's Scheduled Execution

In exchange, Jones shall “never again be eligible to apply for, be considered for, or receive any additional commutation, pardon, or parole.”

Scott Shackford | 11.18.2021 2:15 PM

Biden_1161x653 | Oliver Contreras/UPI/Newscom

Clemency

Only Biden or Congress Can Prevent 4,000 Inmates From Being Forced Back Into Federal Prison Post-COVID

The CARES Act allowed home release of nonviolent inmates during the pandemic. But after it's over, many will have to go back unless their sentences are commuted.

Scott Shackford | 7.20.2021 11:25 AM

Joe-Biden-4-29-21-Newscom-cropped | Michael Reynolds/Pool via CNP/INSTARimages/Cover Images/Newscom

Clemency

Biden Hedges on His Promise To Free Pot Prisoners

The president still has not caught up with most Americans on marijuana policy.

Jacob Sullum | 5.5.2021 12:01 AM

Jen-Psaki-4-23-21 | Jim LoScalzo/Pool via CNP/Newscom

Clemency

The Biden Administration's Obfuscation on Using Clemency To Free Pot Prisoners Is Not a Hopeful Sign

Press Secretary Jen Psaki repeatedly tried to muddy the issue by changing the subject to reclassifying marijuana.

Jacob Sullum | 4.26.2021 12:45 PM

TomWolf_1161x653 | Ricky Fitchett/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Coronavirus

A Pennsylvania Inmate Dies of COVID-19 While Awaiting Mercy from the Governor

The Board of Pardons recommended Bruce Norris’ release. A signature didn’t come in time.

Scott Shackford | 2.1.2021 1:45 PM

Trump-farewell-1-20-21 | Stefani Reynolds/CNP/Polaris/Newscom

Clemency

Presidential Mercy Is a Woefully Inadequate Remedy for Injustice

The controversy over Trump’s pardons and commutations highlights longstanding problems with clemency.

Jacob Sullum | 1.27.2021 12:01 AM

Craig-Cesal-3 | Change.org

Clemency

Freeing People Who Don't Belong in Prison Is Praiseworthy, No Matter Trump's Motives

The president's final batch of clemency actions includes commutations for dozens of nonviolent drug offenders.

Jacob Sullum | 1.20.2021 1:00 AM

TrumpPardons_1161x653 | Luis Santana | Times/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Clemency

Trump's Latest Round of Pardons Includes George Papadopoulos, GOP Congressmen, Blackwater Guards

Full pardons were given to the four contractors convicted of murdering Iraqis in a firefight in Baghdad.

Scott Shackford | 12.22.2020 10:15 PM

brandonberanrd_1161x653 | Courtesy of Attorneys for Brandon Bernard

Death Penalty

No Mercy Came for Brandon Bernard and None Will Come Today for Alfred Bourgeois

Bill Barr and Donald Trump spend the end of their terms executing prisoners.

Scott Shackford | 12.11.2020 1:15 PM

TrumpCommute_1161x653 | ANNA MONEYMAKER/UPI/Newscom

Commutations

Trump Grants Clemency to 5 More Federal Prisoners

All five cases were recommended to the White House by commutation recipient Alice Marie Johnson.

Scott Shackford | 10.22.2020 11:15 AM

warren_1161x653 | Paul Christian Gordon/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Commutations

Elizabeth Warren Adopts Cory Booker's Plan for a Better Presidential Clemency System

Shifting the process from the Justice Department to the White House can help eliminate bureaucracy and meddling from prosecutors.

Scott Shackford | 2.27.2020 2:45 PM

Jimmy Meders | Georgia Department of Corrections

Death Penalty

Georgia Death Row Prisoner Jimmy Meders Has Sentence Commuted Hours Before Execution

The jury said they would have given Jimmy Meders life in prison without parole had it been available.

Zuri Davis | 1.16.2020 4:40 PM

Oklahoma Commutations | @OklaDOC/Twitter

Criminal Justice

The Largest Single-Day Commutation in History

Oklahoma frees 527 low-level offenders—and saves nearly $12 million.

Zuri Davis | 11.4.2019 10:10 AM

blagojevich_1161x653 | Nancy Stone/MCT/Newscom

Commutations

Trump Mulls Commutation for Disgraced Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

While the president's mercy might be self-serving, it's not necessarily wrong.

Scott Shackford | 8.8.2019 3:55 PM

Large image on homepages | Joanna Andreasson

Obama Administration

Obama Finally Finds His Clemency Pen

Jacob Sullum | 3.21.2017 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Erik S. Lesser/EPA/Newscom

Commutations

Obama Squeezes in One More Round of Commutations, Granting Mercy to 330 Federal Prisoners

Going out with a bang

Scott Shackford | 1.19.2017 3:40 PM

Large image on homepages

Clemency

Obama Surpasses Wilson's Commutation Record

The president has now shortened more sentences than any of his predecessors.

Jacob Sullum | 1.18.2017 8:30 AM

Large image on homepages | Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning Gets Obama's Mercy, Will Be Freed in May

Another round of commutations announced, but one will dominate the news.

Scott Shackford | 1.17.2017 4:45 PM

Large image on homepages

Drugs

Obama's Belated Drug War Retreat

Jacob Sullum | 1.14.2017 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning

Obama Reportedly Considering Mercy for Chelsea Manning

Given the administration's treatment of whistleblowers, this would be a big deal.

Scott Shackford | 1.11.2017 11:15 AM

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