USA TODAY: …Both Bush and Obama gave instructions to the Justice Department said they would look unfavorably on pardon applications for certain categories of serious crimes: terrorism and national security cases; violent crimes; crimes against children; gun crimes and public corruption cases.
Obama softened Bush’s stance against drug crimes. Whereas Bush was reluctant to issue any pardons for drug trafficking cases,
Obama’s policy said pardons should be rare only for “large scale drug trafficking offenses in which the applicant had a significant role.”
But even with a more liberal policy, Obama has granted just 22 drug-related pardons, compared with Bush’s 30…(more)
EDITOR: It is understandable that the President would not want to expend his influence with wide scale pardons during his terms in office. However, it is our hope, that before leaving office that he will release thousands of non-violent federal prisoners who received draconian prison terms under Mandatory Minimum Guidelines for low level drug distribution and use.
