Topic: Pardons

Obama Is Not a Very Forgiving President

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Presidents have the unique power to forgive individuals for federal offenses, restoring a person's full right to vote and other citizen rights. But Obama has a lower pardon rate than the past five presidents, with applicants having less than 1 in 5,000 chance of receiving pardon. 

By Connor Simpson

Jun 3, 2012

Read the Most Adorable Presidential Pardon Ever

While President Obama was attending a series of fundraisers in Minnesota on Friday, he made the unexpected decision to pardon an (adorable) criminal he met at one of the functions.

Comments | 4,456 Views

By Dafna Linzer, ProPublica

May 14, 2012

Justice Department Shortchanges Prisoners Who Ask for Less Jailtime

Clarence Aaron seemed to be especially deserving of a federal commutation, an immediate release from prison granted by the president of the United States.

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