President Obama granted a record number of pardons today as his 8-year-term comes to a close.
President Obama pardoned 78 people and shortened the sentences of 153 others convicted of federal crimes Monday, the most individual clemencies ever granted by a president in a single day.
Forty-nine of the individuals had been convicted of firearms offenses.
Obama, who has offered plenty of lip service and photo-ops in the name of gun control, doesn’t want to punish those who break our firearms laws.
Another benefit of Obama’s pardons is the right to vote — alas, too late for the 2016 election.
The large number of pardons were unusual for Mr. Obama, who has focused his clemency efforts on commuting the life sentences of drug dealers who would not have received such lengthy terms under current law. Pardons amount to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote.
So far the tally for commutations is up to 1,176 people, 395 of whom were in for life. A total of 148 people have been pardoned during Obama’s presidency.
Flashback August 2016: Obama commutes 214 sentences:
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