Claiming the overwhelming majority had been convicted under “outdated” drug laws, President Obama commuted the sentences of 102 federal felons on Thursday.
According to the Washington Times, this has become an almost monthly occurrence. He has now issued 774 commutations during his presidency, more than the 11 previous presidents combined.
The White House doesn’t seem too concerned about it. It proudly announced that with these commutations, Obama has granted 590 this year alone, the most of any president in one year ever.
The Times broke down the latest commutations:
White House counsel Neil Eggleston said the latest commutations are for people “who have demonstrated that they are deserving of a second chance at freedom.” He said the “vast majority” were serving lengthy prison terms under outdated laws for drug sentences.
Fifteen of the inmates were convicted of firearms crimes — either using a weapon during a drug transaction, or possessing a gun illegally as a convicted felon.
Eight individuals were convicted of trafficking in more than five kilos of cocaine, and a ninth person, Cesar R. Jara of El Paso, Texas, was convicted in 2006 of trafficking 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.
The White House continues to press for “bipartisan criminal justice reform.”
