Commuting Sentences News Today

Cases, looking at arguments they can make if a subpoena happens to show us. >> they are. but a keep part of the presidents conviction behind his strategy and the messaging strategy is the presidents fate is a political question. the way a presideld accountae is impeachment por. the framers put it in the constitution for a reason. if the president behaves in an untoward manner he can be impeached and removed by congress. all of that is part of that messaging. when he talks about commuting sentenc...

To show us. >> they are. but a keep part of the presidents conviction behind his strategy and the messaging strategy is the presidents fate is a political question. the way a president is held accountable is impeachment power. the framers put it in the constitution for a reason. if the president behaves in an untoward manner he can be impeached and removed by congress. all of that is part of that messaging. when he talks about commuting sentences and pardoning scooter libby, both of these are ca...

Depressed team likes to see the president and the press briefing. he got a good farewell, josh earnest, so it was a good moment for him as well. >> jon: as he is winding down his final days in office, he has been busy, commuting sentences, changing u.s. policy, doing all kinds of things. >> he said he was going to go all the way to the tape, working until the last day, so we saw that with a bunch of new monuments which means the total amount of land he has a set-aside is about 500 million acres....

All right. we are back here live in washington, d.c. we are continuing to follow breaking news. the whe house announcing that president obama in one of his final acts as presidency. this is a big one, he is offering a commutation of the sentence that chelsea manning received. chelsea manning had been sentenced to 35 years in prison. the president now offering a commutation, of course this is something any president can do. pretty much as blanket authority when it comes to commuting sentences, wh...

Administrations push for criminal justice reform. >> we still think theres a need for congress to act. were using the president to alleviate a situation that we think needs to be changed. >> reporter: he cites it as a priority for the remaining time in office. >> i am interested in the prospect of bipartisan legislation around criminal justice system, and weve seen some really interesting leadership from some unlikely republican legislators. >> reporter: gop lawmakers like rand paul. >> i think ...

Changed. >> reporter: the president cited an issue as a top priority. >> i am really interested in the prospects of a bipartisan legislation around the justice system. we have seen some interesting leadership from some unlike lily republican legislators. >> gop lawmakers like rand paul. >> i think there still is a problem, and you shouldnt be using illegal drugs. however, i am for a much more humane response to this and given people a second chance. >> the president is well ahead of his predeces...

Finally close guantanamo bay, he could commit the prison sentences of the non-violent drug offenders sentenced to ten years in prison. can obama become our best lame duck? yes, he can. closing gitmo, commuting sentences, more action on climate change. what can the president get done in the last two years? >> the suggestion to commute the sentences was, the timing on that was just before inauguration. so the timing on that, if he were to do that, might be a burr in the saddle of the incoming cong...

This week, president obama and district attorney holder announced new criteria for nonviolent federal drug offenders seeking clemency. who has received lower sentences if their offenses were committed today. "the new york times" points out, the purpose is to deal with the aftermath of the war on drugs whose casualties are the thousands of people sentenced under harsh and outdated law. its not a job thats finished. >> this is something im happy to commend the president on. he started commuting se...

I am happy to compliment the president on, last couple days over the last year he started commuting sentences and letting people out. for a long time we punished crack cocaine different than powder cocaine. you can have the same amount. crack cocaine tended to be used more in the african-american community. 10-and 20-year sentences. the rich white kid going to college got out in six months or not going to jail at all. a mistake to use drugs but not something you give up your future. >> senator p...

Purposefully, but inadvertently has a racial outcome. the president, this is one thing i am happy to compliment the president on, last couple days over the last year he started commuting sentences and letting people out. for a long time we punished crack cocaine different than powder cocaine. you can have the same amount. crack cocaine tended to be used more in the african-american community. 10-and 20-year sentences. the rich white kid going to college got out in six months or not going to jail...