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Pardons

Joe-Biden-4-25-22-Newscom

War on Drugs

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

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War on Drugs

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

War on Drugs

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

War on Drugs

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

George-Floyd-mural-Newscom

War on Drugs

A Pending Pardon for George Floyd Shows How the Drug War Gives Cops a License To Lie

Floyd was arrested for selling crack by a crooked Houston narcotics cop who repeatedly lied to implicate people in drug crimes.

Jacob Sullum | 10.6.2021 3:10 PM

pantherphotos7804359

Criminal Justice

743 Years and 3 Months. 117 Years. 51 Years. Why Are These Men's Sentences So Long?

For possessing a gun while committing a crime—even when no one is killed—too many defendants are slammed with sentences decades or even centuries longer than justice demands.

Tana Ganeva | 3.15.2021 11:15 AM

Trump-farewell-1-20-21

War on Drugs

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

Untitled(7)

War on Drugs

Lil Wayne, Steve Bannon, and Some Drug War Victims Pardoned, but No Assange, Snowden, or Ulbricht

Plus: Pelosi wants 9/11-style commission to investigate Capitol attack, MyPillow drama, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.20.2021 9:52 AM

Craig-Cesal-3

War on Drugs

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

Executive Power

Can President Trump Pardon Himself?

The Constitution's words, history, and structure suggest the best answer is no. He can't plead, "I beg my pardon."

Dale Carpenter |The Volokh Conspiracy | 1.17.2021 2:28 PM

Executive Power

Trump's Pattern of Self-Serving Pardons Continues

President Trump's use of the pardon power confirms Anti-Federalist fears more than did his predecessors'.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 12.24.2020 11:56 AM

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Criminal Justice

Trump Pardons 26 More, Including Paul Manafort and Roger Stone

The list also included several drug war victims.

C.J. Ciaramella | 12.23.2020 9:20 PM

TrumpPardons_1161x653

War on Drugs

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

ASSANGE_SS

WikiLeaks

The Prosecution of Julian Assange Is an Assault on the First Amendment

Though journalists tend to despise the WikiLeaks founder, his fate could impact the future of their profession.

Zach Weissmueller | 12.15.2020 1:30 PM

Executive Power

Former Judge Michael Luttig on Why the Pardon Power Does Not Encompass Self-Pardons

A pardon is something granted, like a gift, and it is presumed one cannot grant something to themselves.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 12.9.2020 2:42 PM

Executive Power

Another problem with self-pardons

A "self-pardon" might bring about exactly the prosecution it seeks to avoid.

Stephen E. Sachs |The Volokh Conspiracy | 12.1.2020 1:58 PM

Executive Power

The Pardon Power May Be Broad, But that Does Not Mean a Self-Pardon Would Be Legit

President Trump pardoned a turkey and an agent of Turkey. Will he give himself a lame duck pardon next?

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 11.30.2020 8:08 PM

mflynn_1161x653

Criminal Justice

Will Anybody Besides Michael Flynn Get Mercy from Lame Duck Trump?

The president has the worst record for clemency in modern history.

Scott Shackford | 11.30.2020 2:20 PM

zumaamericastwentyfive677754

Criminal Justice

Presidential Pardons Offer Trump a Way to Go Out on a Positive Note

If Trump isn’t interested, maybe the Biden administration could get started with a few acts of mercy.

J.D. Tuccille | 11.15.2020 1:29 PM

edwardsnowdenrussia_1161x653

Russia

Snowden Announces Plans To Become Russian Citizen

The surveillance whistleblower has a child on the way and little sign a pardon is forthcoming.

Scott Shackford | 11.2.2020 12:45 PM

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War on Drugs

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

trump-pardon

Criminal Justice

Trump Pardons Inmate-Turned-Activist Jon Ponder and Praises 'Second Chances'

"I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream," Trump said.

C.J. Ciaramella | 8.25.2020 11:42 PM

susanrice_1161x653

Joe Biden

Susan Rice Tries To Turn Possible Snowden Pardon Into Attack on GOP

All the worst people are still mad he blew the whistle on government snooping.

Scott Shackford | 8.17.2020 3:06 PM

DeVos

Donald Trump

Should Schools Be Fully Reopened in the Fall?

The Reason Roundtable weighs in on the latest coronavirus policy debate.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie | 7.13.2020 5:20 PM

Executive Power

President Trump's Use of the Pardon Power

An analysis finds that Trump is both more stingy and more self-serving than his predecessors in how he has used the pardon power to date

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.11.2020 12:10 PM

Roger-Stone-2-20-20-Newscom

White House

Trump Commutes Ally Roger Stone's Prison Sentence

Stone was set to report to federal prison to serve 40 months for lying to Congress and witness tampering.

C.J. Ciaramella | 7.10.2020 8:15 PM

warren_1161x653

Criminal Justice

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

Roger-Stone-2-20-20-Newscom-2

Executive Power

Would a Presidential Pardon for Roger Stone Be Unconstitutional?

The argument requires several controversial assumptions and leaps of logic.

Jacob Sullum | 2.27.2020 2:20 PM

Alice-Johnson-ad-Trump-campaign

Department of Justice

Trump White House Considering Limiting Justice Department Influence Over Pardons

Criminal justice reformers say federal prosecutors torpedoed clemency petitions in worthy cases.

C.J. Ciaramella | 2.25.2020 3:40 PM

carophotos182498

War on Drugs

Trump Uses Clemency To Help Drug War Victims, Reward GOP Donors, and Spite James Comey

Plus: China boots three reporters, megacities are getting a smaller share of growth than they used to, and Dems gather to debate in Las Vegas..

Eric Boehm | 2.19.2020 9:30 AM

Rwinner_1161x653

Cybersecurity

Imprisoned Leaker Reality Winner Seeks Mercy From Trump

She’s nearly three years into a five-year sentence for releasing classified documents showing Russian attempts to hack U.S. election systems.

Scott Shackford | 2.18.2020 2:25 PM

Paul-Manafort-Newscom-2

Criminal Justice

As the Dismissed Charges Against Paul Manafort Show, New York Democrats Love Double Jeopardy When It Hurts Trump's Cronies

Recent revisions to state law will facilitate such duplicative prosecutions of people associated with the president.

Jacob Sullum | 12.19.2019 3:05 PM

ABeshear_1161x652_1161x653

Criminal Justice

New Kentucky Governor Restores Voting Rights to 140,000 Nonviolent Felons

Meanwhile, outgoing Gov. Matt Bevin made some controversial pardon choices as he headed for the door.

Scott Shackford | 12.13.2019 2:00 PM

zumaglobalthree965087

Iraq

Trump's Shameful Pardons for War Criminals Undermine America's Moral Authority

Pentagon brass, who urged the president not to issue these orders, fear that the president's actions will undermine the system of military justice.

Steven Greenhut | 11.29.2019 8:00 AM

sandusky2

Medical Marijuana

Aaron Sandusky Has Spent 7 Years in Prison for Selling Medical Marijuana

Obama denied him clemency. Will Trump set him free?

Zach Weissmueller | 8.9.2019 12:30 PM

blagojevich_1161x653

Corruption

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

Paul-Manafort-Newscom-2

Criminal Justice

New York Legislators Approve Double Jeopardy for Trump Cronies to Protect 'the Rule of Law'

The bill allows dual prosecutions of people in the president's orbit who receive pardons or commutations.

Jacob Sullum | 5.22.2019 2:20 PM

Large image on homepages

HomePage

70 Years After They Were Wrongly Imprisoned, the Groveland Four Have Been Pardoned

The criminal justice system failed four black men after a white woman accused them of rape.

Zuri Davis | 1.11.2019 4:01 PM

Large image on homepages

HomePage

Trump Pardons Oregon Ranchers Convicted in Brush Fire Case

Steve and Dwight Hammond became a cause célèbre for angry ranchers and another example of inflexible mandatory minimum sentences.

C.J. Ciaramella | 7.10.2018 1:43 PM

Large image on homepages

HomePage

Trump to Kneeling NFL Players: Tell Me Who I Should Pardon

The president has discovered the power of the pardon. Could that make this a moment for criminal justice reform?

Eric Boehm | 6.8.2018 11:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Donald Trump

Reason Totally Called the Masterpiece Cakeshop Case: Podcast

After oral arguments last year, Stephanie Slade correctly observed that "justices might have found a sort of get-out-of-jail-free card." Also on the Reason Podcast: Bill Clinton, Roseanne, Samantha Bee, Kim Kardashian, and maybe the worst celebrity of the week, Larry Kudlow.

Matt Welch | 6.4.2018 3:25 PM

Large image on homepages

HomePage

Scooter Libby Aside, Presidential Pardons Are Good and Trump Should Issue Even More of Them

"I don't know Mr. Libby, but for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly."

Robby Soave | 4.13.2018 3:45 PM

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Al Franken

Price Gougers Are Heroes! [Podcast]

Reason editors discuss Hurricane Harvey, the pardon of Joe Arpaio, Al Franken 2020, Antifa, and more.

Andrew Heaton and Ian Keyser | 8.28.2017 3:45 PM

Large image on homepages

HomePage

The Case for Pardoning Edward Snowden

Will Obama salvage his legacy on protecting whistleblowers?

Nick Gillespie and Meredith Bragg | 9.16.2016 10:35 AM

Large image on homepages

Hit & Run

NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Suggests that Obama Pardon Him

It's a good idea and the right thing to do.

Ronald Bailey | 9.14.2016 9:45 AM

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