Obama Commutes More Sentences

More than 600 commutations have been granted since 2009, but only two prisoners from Hawaii have benefited from the president’s clemency initiative.

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President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 111 federal prisoners Tuesday, the latest use of his clemency authority to ease harsh penalties given to nonviolent drug offenders.

Tuesday’s action raised the number of commutations in August to 325, the most granted by any president in one month, according to the White House.

Since taking office in 2009, Obama has granted a total of 673 commutations — more than the previous 10 presidents combined — as well as 70 pardons.

But only two prisoners from Hawaii have had their sentences commuted by Obama: Jerome Clarence Sumral and David Lang Akana, both of whom were convicted of drug-delivery charges and sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said Tuesday’s commutations “underscore the president’s commitment to using his clemency authority to provide a second chance to deserving individuals.”

“They are individuals who received unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws for committing largely nonviolent drug crimes, for example, the 35 individuals whose life sentences were commuted today,” Eggleston said in his blog post.

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