Obama Has Granted More Commutations Than the Past 6 Presidents Combined

[Jackie Wilson Said]

Good



http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/obama-adminstration-just-commuted-sentences-61-non-violent-drug-offenders

President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 61 drug offenders on Wednesday, as part of his push to ramp up clemencies and reform sentencing laws. That brings his total commutations to 248 since taking office, more than the past six presidents combined.

More than a third of the 61 inmates were serving life sentences on charges related to possession and distribution of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamines, and marijuana. Unlike recent rounds of commutations, however, none of them were serving life sentences for marijuana-only crimes. As Mother Jones has reported in the past, scores of so-called pot lifers remain behind bars.

[elleng]

1. Yes.

What about Don Siegelman?

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. Hot potato, even though he should have been pardoned day one, he never will be.

[yallerdawg]

3. The interesting thing I find about Siegelman...

- aside from guilt or innocence or prosecutorial misconduct - is how this man is deemed innocent and incorruptible after his actual conviction, appeal, sentencing, Supreme Court denial - and with these same people who are outraged at this, Hillary stands convicted in their minds of the same thing while never even charged with a crime.

The hypocrisy and the double standard is astounding.

[elleng]

4. Sorry you're conflating 2 non-related issues.

Many, including me, think Siegelman was persecuted for political reasons for non-criminal actions.

I'm not consumed by concern about what hrc might or might not have done vis a vis 'server.' I'm concerned about her judgment generally.

[yallerdawg]

5. Ohhh - here we go.

Hillary is constantly being accused of corruption regarding campaign contributions, paid speeches, and charitable foundation donations - by her opponent and every Hillary Hater and Bernie supporter everywhere! Unfounded accusation and speculation!

Now...

Siegelman, now 70, was convicted by a federal court in 2006 on bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges after being accused of appointing former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to a health planning board in return for a $500,000 donation to the governor's campaign for a statewide lottery.

He has seen numerous appeals rejected, and, in January, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not review the appeal, after a lower appeals court rejected his request for a new sentencing hearing and trial.

Justice Elena Kagan, who had once been involved in the case as U.S. Solicitor General, took no part in the consideration or decision of the petition. As Solicitor General, Kagan stood against Siegelman's and Scrushy's appeals.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/former_alabama_gov_don_siegelm_3.html#incart_river_index

Is it "conflating" to see a profound double standard at work here?