A report by Representative Ayanna Pressley indicates that Donald Trump's use of clemency and pardons disproportionately favored white individuals and those involved in the January 6th events, neglecting marginalized communities and raising concerns about the use of executive power.
Representative Ayanna Pressley 's office, D-Mass., has stated that Donald Trump 's use of clemency and pardons largely overlooked marginalized and impacted communities. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President possesses the authority to grant pardons for all federal crimes, with a single exception. A new report, compiled by Rep.
Pressley, a dedicated advocate for criminal justice reform, indicates that a significant majority of those who benefited from Trump's clemency actions were white, with defendants from the January 6th events comprising 90% of the recipients. The report, initially shared with NBC News, reveals that 5% of beneficiaries were Latino and 8% were Black. When comparing these figures to the broader federal prison population, the report highlights that 25% are white, 36% are Hispanic, and 34% are Black. Pressley's office emphasized that Trump's clemency decisions failed to support those most in need. Pressley stated in an interview that the report demonstrates Trump's failure to utilize clemency effectively for those who could benefit the most. \The report, titled “Trump’s Clemency Gap,” examines Trump's utilization of his pardon power, with a specific emphasis on identifying the beneficiaries and those excluded. The 19-page document is based on publicly available federal clemency actions taken between January 20th and December 5th, drawing from White House announcements, Justice Department records, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, academic research institutions, and news reports. The report states that approximately 90% of the over 1,700 individuals granted pardons or clemency since January 20th were defendants associated with the January 6th events. Pressley's office also found that only nine clemency actions aided individuals convicted of drug offenses, despite over 60,000 people being incarcerated for such crimes. This includes the case of Michael “Iron Mike” Hernandez, convicted of conspiring to import cocaine, who received clemency. The President's power of clemency is exclusive and limited to federal offenses, as outlined in Article II, section 2, of the Constitution. In late November, Trump expressed the view that Hernandez had been treated unfairly. \The report also notes the financial impact of Trump's clemency grants, citing a House Democratic memorandum that states approximately $1.4 billion in restitution and fines were lost. The report indicates that Trump's actions allowed individuals to profit from their crimes, causing a loss of funds that could have been allocated to public goods and restorative justice initiatives. Pressley's office did not compile a similar report on former President Joe Biden's pardon and commutation record. Pressley's office highlighted her consistent support for clemency reform across different administrations. In contrast, former President Barack Obama issued the largest single-day act of clemency before leaving office, commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Pressley had previously urged then pardon czar, to “prioritize clemency for those who have been disproportionately harmed by systemic injustices.” Pressley highlighted the transformative power of pardons and commutations and expressed the need for clemency to extend beyond the wealthy and politically connected. This underscores her ongoing commitment to the use of clemency to address systemic inequalities and to benefit those most affected by them
Clemency Donald Trump Ayanna Pressley Criminal Justice Reform January 6Th
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump’s Mass Deportation Agenda Could Kill 400,000 Direct Care Jobs in US: ReportJake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
Read more »
SEC ’eased up on’ 60% of crypto enforcement cases under Trump: ReportThe New York Times said that it had found no evidence that Donald Trump had pressured the SEC to drop cases, but still reported connections between the president and the industry.
Read more »
Trump Admin to Radically Reshape Military: ReportPentagon officials are preparing a major shake-up of the U.S. military, The Washington Post has reported.
Read more »
Delayed Jobs Report is Blow to Trump’s Economic MessageThe report combined figures from November and October, due to the government shutdown causing issues with data collection.
Read more »
Grim Jobs Report Delivers Black Mark to Trump’s EconomyThe latest jobs report is a warning sign that unemployment is a growing problem for an economy the president has described as A+++.
Read more »
Trump Poised to Reclassify Marijuana as Schedule III on Thursday: ReportTrump has said he is looking to reclassify the drug.
Read more »