. . . he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.President Obama has used this power less often than his predecessors. The Department of Justice offers clemency statistics dating back to William McKinley
- Click here for them.
- Wikipedia also provides a list.
Out of almost 20,000 petitions for pardons and clemency he has granted just over 100.
Perhaps foreshadowing an initiative to reduce sentencing for people convicted of non-violent drug crimes he is allegedly preparing to provide clemency for a number of them.
- Click here for the NYT story.
Sometime in the next few weeks, aides expect President Obama to issue orders freeing dozens of federal prisoners locked up on nonviolent drug offenses. With the stroke of his pen, he will probably commute more sentences at one time than any president has in nearly half a century.
The expansive use of hisclemency power is part of a broader effort by Mr. Obama to correct what he sees as the excesses of the past, when politicians eager to be tough on crime threw away the key even for minor criminals. With many Republicans and Democrats now agreeing that the nation went too far, Mr. Obama holds the power to unlock that prison door, especially for young African-American and Hispanic men disproportionately affected.
For more:
- Wikipedia: Pardon.
- 538: Lame Duck President tend to offer more Clemency.
