Cohen Urges President Obama to Expedite Clemency Review Process

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, sent a letter to President Obama urging him to do everything in his power to expedite the clemency review process so he can commute as many unjust sentences as possible before President-elect Donald Trump, who is unlikely to utilize this power, takes office. Dozens of criminal justice reform advocates and groups also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to expedite the clemency review process before he leaves office. You can read Congressman Cohen’s letter here. You can read the criminal justice reform advocates’ letter here.

“I would urge you to summon the maximum manpower at your disposal to vet commutations and pardons so that as many sentencing wrongs as possible may be corrected as thousands of incarcerated Americans who are serving unjust sentences may receive justice,” wrote Congressman Cohen in his letter to President Obama.

Congressman Cohen also recently urged President Obama to focus his review of commutation requests on those sentences specifically related to non-violent marijuana convictions. Read here.

“President Obama should be commuting the prison sentences of those serving time for non-violent marijuana-related convictions,” said Congressman Cohen. “Medical marijuana is now legal in 28 states as well as the District of Columbia, and more than 63 million Americans live in states that have now approved recreational marijuana. The President should increase clemency review staff and work overtime to free as many of these individuals as possible before he leaves office. Every day that someone continues to serve an unjust sentence is a day justice is denied. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so rightly noted, ‘Justice too long delayed is justice denied.’ ”

Congressman Cohen also recently sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take action on rescheduling marijuana during his remaining time in office. You can read his letter here.