Obama commutes more than 100 prison sentences

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Barack Obama on Thursday commuted the sentences of 102 prisoners, adding to a tally that already surpassed the previous 11 presidents combined.

Like those that preceded it, the latest tranche is comprised mainly of drug offenders.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a blog post that the new batch brings Obama’s total commutations to 774, including 590 this year alone.

Obama has now issued more commutations in a single year than any other president, he added.

Eggleston stressed that while clemency is a “powerful tool”, lawmakers must recommit themselves to comprehensive criminal reform.

“Only the passage of legislation can achieve the broader reforms needed to ensure our federal sentencing system operates more fairly and effectively in the service of public safety,” he wrote.

Obama has prioritized criminal justice reform in his last year in office, but only Congress can authorize laws that would enable it.