Earlier today President Obama commuted the sentences of another 72 federal prisoners bringing his total to 944, more than the previous 11 presidents combined. This latest move is just further evidence of his stated intention to ramp up commutations throughout the remainder of his presidency. While the President often claims publicly that his commutations are only for "low-level" and "non-violent" criminals, The Hill points out that 16 of the 72 commutations from today were for people serving life sentences.

Friday’s clemency grants include 16 people serving life sentences. More than two dozen will be released as early as next spring, but many will not be freed immediately. Some will not get out of prison until fall 2018. Other inmates' releases are conditional on them entering enter residential drug treatment programs. During the final stretch of his presidency, Obama has ramped up his use of clemency power to free prisoners serving lengthy sentences handed down during the government's war on drugs.

In his typical fashion, the President also took to Twitter to brag about his latest "accomplishment."

.@POTUS has commuted more sentences than the past 11 presidents combined. Today, he granted 72 more: https://t.co/at8cs4afpw pic.twitter.com/63bfxvoONf — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 4, 2016

Of course, Obama has repeatedly denounced long sentences for "nonviolent, low-level" drug offenses as overly punitive, arguing they’ve had a devastating impact on "communities of color." That said, we would encourage everyone to take a look at the DOJ's list of offenses committed by the folks that Obama is intent upon releasing. Below is a brief sample...do these look like "nonviolent, low-level" criminals to anyone?



Gerardo Hernandez - Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, 18 U.S.C. § 371; conspiracy to gather and transmit national defense information, 18 U.S.C § 794(c); conspiracy to commit murder, 18 U.S.C. § 1117; fraud and misuse of documents, 18 U.S.C § 1546(a); possession with intent to use five or more fraudulent identification documents, 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(3); acting as an agent of foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, 18 U.S.C. § 951 Anthony Pender - Possession of a firearm by convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base Tesmone Darin Paschal - Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; aided and abetted in the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Mark Foster - Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 & 841(b)(1)(A); carrying or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) Ali Reno Harden - Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); possession of a firearm having an obliterated serial number, 18 U.S.C. § 922(k); possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 851; possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); possession of marijuana, 21 U.S.C. §§ 844 & 851

Finally, here is the full statement from the President's White House blog released earlier today:

Following last Thursday’s grant of 98 commutations, today, President Obama granted commutation to another 72 federal inmates. In just an eight-day period, the President has issued two rounds of grants, totaling 170 commutations. With today’s grants, the President has now commuted the sentences of 944 individuals, including 324 life sentences. What President Obama has done for commutations is unprecedented in the modern era. The President is committed to reinvigorating the clemency authority, demonstrating that our nation is a nation of second chances, where mistakes from the past will not deprive deserving individuals of the opportunity to rejoin society and contribute to their families and communities. The President’s 944 commutation recipients have earned that second chance -- whether by obtaining a GED, taking vocational programming to learn skills for future employment, or addressing the substance abuse that so often has led to their criminal conduct. These stories demonstrate that neither society nor these individuals benefit from disproportionate sentences that keep rehabilitated individuals incarcerated, even after they have been adequately punished for their wrongdoing. The personal stories behind each of the President’s commutation recipients underline the individualized consideration that goes into each grant. Only Congress can achieve the broader reforms needed to ensure our federal sentencing system operates more fairly and effectively in the service of public safety. As Congress returns this month, it is essential that they take up bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, including reforms that address the excessive mandatory minimum sentences that imprisoned many of the individuals receiving commutation today.

944 extra democrat voters and counting...