President Obama grants 72 more commutations to federal inmates

WashPost

President Obama granted clemency to 72 more federal inmates Friday, boosting the total number of inmates he has given commutations to 944, including 324 prisoners who were serving life sentences.

“What President Obama has done for commutations is unprecedented in the modern era,” said White House Counsel Neil Eggleston, who has to approve the commutations before they are sent to the president.

At least 469 of the total clemency petitions that have been signed by Obama were prepared by Clemency Project 2014, a group of about 4,000 volunteer lawyers from across the country who signed up over the last two years in what has become one of the largest pro bono efforts in the history of the American legal profession.

“We are thrilled to see more frequent grants of clemency,” said Cynthia W. Roseberry, project manager for Clemency Project 2014. “These grants represent 72 reunited families. They also represent hope to others who have applied. We are grateful that President Obama is keeping his word to grant more clemency.”

The White House and Justice Department were criticized earlier this year by sentencing reform advocates for moving too slowly in granting commutations to inmates serving harsh sentences who met the criteria set out by Justice officials to be released early. But the administration has significantly picked up the pace.

“The department is moving full steam ahead,” said Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates.