The 75 commutations announced today, while impressive compared to the pitiful records of previous presidents, pale beside a huge backlog of petitions.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos faced harsh punishment under the state’s mandatory minimum sentences for insisting on the right to a trial.
A new bill would transfer the review of petitions from the Justice Department to a presidentially appointed board.
The annual photo op takes on cruel undertones as drug offenders continue to suffer under harsh federal prison sentences.
Floyd was arrested for selling crack by a crooked Houston narcotics cop who repeatedly lied to implicate people in drug crimes.
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.
The controversy over Trump’s pardons and commutations highlights longstanding problems with clemency.
Plus: Pelosi wants 9/11-style commission to investigate Capitol attack, MyPillow drama, and more...
The president's final batch of clemency actions includes commutations for dozens of nonviolent drug offenders.
The Constitution's words, history, and structure suggest the best answer is no. He can't plead, "I beg my pardon."
President Trump's use of the pardon power confirms Anti-Federalist fears more than did his predecessors'.
The list also included several drug war victims.
Full pardons were given to the four contractors convicted of murdering Iraqis in a firefight in Baghdad.
Though journalists tend to despise the WikiLeaks founder, his fate could impact the future of their profession.
A pardon is something granted, like a gift, and it is presumed one cannot grant something to themselves.
A "self-pardon" might bring about exactly the prosecution it seeks to avoid.
President Trump pardoned a turkey and an agent of Turkey. Will he give himself a lame duck pardon next?
The president has the worst record for clemency in modern history.
If Trump isn’t interested, maybe the Biden administration could get started with a few acts of mercy.
The surveillance whistleblower has a child on the way and little sign a pardon is forthcoming.
All five cases were recommended to the White House by commutation recipient Alice Marie Johnson.
"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.
All the worst people are still mad he blew the whistle on government snooping.
The Reason Roundtable weighs in on the latest coronavirus policy debate.
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
Stone was set to report to federal prison to serve 40 months for lying to Congress and witness tampering.
Shifting the process from the Justice Department to the White House can help eliminate bureaucracy and meddling from prosecutors.
The argument requires several controversial assumptions and leaps of logic.
Criminal justice reformers say federal prosecutors torpedoed clemency petitions in worthy cases.
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..
She’s nearly three years into a five-year sentence for releasing classified documents showing Russian attempts to hack U.S. election systems.
Recent revisions to state law will facilitate such duplicative prosecutions of people associated with the president.
Meanwhile, outgoing Gov. Matt Bevin made some controversial pardon choices as he headed for the door.
Pentagon brass, who urged the president not to issue these orders, fear that the president's actions will undermine the system of military justice.
Obama denied him clemency. Will Trump set him free?
While the president's mercy might be self-serving, it's not necessarily wrong.
The bill allows dual prosecutions of people in the president's orbit who receive pardons or commutations.
The criminal justice system failed four black men after a white woman accused them of rape.
Steve and Dwight Hammond became a cause célèbre for angry ranchers and another example of inflexible mandatory minimum sentences.
The president has discovered the power of the pardon. Could that make this a moment for criminal justice reform?
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.
"I don't know Mr. Libby, but for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly."
Reason editors discuss Hurricane Harvey, the pardon of Joe Arpaio, Al Franken 2020, Antifa, and more.
Will Obama salvage his legacy on protecting whistleblowers?
It's a good idea and the right thing to do.