"Commutation Recipients Ask for OPA Investigation"

The title of this post is the title of this press release from FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums). Here are excerpts:

A group of 16 formerly incarcerated people who received sentence commutations from Presidents William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama sent a letter today urging President Obama “to investigate credible claims of serious misconduct against the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA) in the Department of Justice (DOJ).”  The group also asked the president to use his authority to grant more commutations to deserving applicants.

“We know that the pardon attorney’s office failed President Bush and is now failing President Obama.  We won’t know the extent of the damage, however, until the Congress or the Justice Department fully investigates the OPA,” FAMM President Julie Stewart said....

“The 16 individuals who signed this letter are not unique,” said Molly Gill, FAMM’s director of special projects.  “There are thousands of other people in prison just like them, people who have worked hard to rehabilitate themselves and who would lead productive lives in our communities.  Getting clemency shouldn’t be like winning the lottery.  Every prisoner deserves a fair review from this administration’s pardon attorney -- and the president and the taxpayers who pay his salary deserve it, too.  But it appears likely that no one will get a fair shake from the pardon attorney’s office unless the President or the Department reforms it.”

The text of the full letter, along with the names of all the signers, is available at this link. The letter, as well as the list of signatories, is an interesting read. I am fearful that this letter will not be enough to convince Congress to get serious about these matters, in part because they do not now fit into a convenient right/left political narrative.   But I am very glad FAMM and others are trying to keep this important story in the news.

Related posts concerning federal clemency practices:

• "Presidential Pardons Heavily Favor Whites"
• Investigation reveals (shockingly?!?!) that politicians and politics impact federal pardons
• DOJ audit of federal clemency process with sound and fury signifying nothing
• Updated numbers on President Obama's disgraceful clemency record
• Noting President Obama's (still) stingy clemency record
• ProPublica reveals more ugliness in federal clemency process
• Public policy groups urge Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate US Pardon Attorney Office
• Commentary calls for "cleaning house" at DOJ's Office of the Pardon Attorney