Obama Commutes Chelsea Manning Sentence (And 200 Plus More)

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 07:24:36 PM EST
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President Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning. Manning will only have to serve four more months --She will be freed May 17.

Manning was one of 273 people granted clemency or pardons today, according to the White House.

His totals: 1,385 grants of clemency and 212 pardons.

With today’s 209 grants of commutation, the President has now commuted the sentences of 1,385 individuals – the most grants of commutation issued by any President in this nation’s history. President Obama’s 1,385 commutation grants – which includes 504 life sentences – is also more than the total number of commutations issued by the past 12 presidents combined. And with today’s 64 pardons, the President has now granted a total of 212 pardons.

That's what you call change. Thank you, President Obama. [More...]

Update: More clemency/pardons are expected this week.

Among the pardons today: Ian Schrager, co-owner of the 1980's nightclub Studio 54, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

What will Obama do about Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich? It's not looking good for him as Obama said the remaining clemency grants won't include famous people or non-drug offenders. Maybe Obama figures Blago, as a former Celebrity Apprentice candidate, is friends with Trump, so he'll let Trump give him clemency.

< Turkey Arrests Suspected Shooter in Reina Nightclub Attack | Down to the Wire for Two Gitmo Detainees >

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Obama Commutes Chelsea Manning Sentence (And 200 Plus More) | 40 comments (40 topical)

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didn't Julian Assange promise to surrender if (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Molly Bloom on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 08:12:02 PM EST

President Obama pardoned Chelsea Manning.

Ball is in your court Julian.

Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by FlJoe on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 06:09:51 AM EST

now he will drop a dime on Trump and the Republicans.


Assange could weasel (none / 0) (#3)
by leap on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 08:37:26 PM EST

out of his part of the deal by noting that Manning was not "pardoned," but her sentence "commuted." You see.


Assange said (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 08:59:09 PM EST

granted Manning clemency which he did. So now Assange is going to have to either buck up and hand himself in or look like the weasel he really is.


Ah, (none / 0) (#6)
by leap on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 09:02:53 PM EST

we'll see what kind of weasel he is, then. This should be fun.


: oh ah ha ha ha ha ha! Of course. (none / 0) (#30)
by leap on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 06:15:33 PM EST

"Assange lawyer: Manning commutation doesn't meet extradition offer's conditions". Who could have predicted this?? Oh wait, I did, for one! And thousands of others. Twit.

no extradition warrant (none / 0) (#7)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 10:45:58 PM EST

has been issued for Julian Assange by the U.S. It's Sweden that is seeking to extradite him. He fears the U.S. will indict him and issue one if he's sent back to Sweden -- and Sweden will grant it -- which is why he offered to surrender.

But right now there's no charges here and no extradition proceeding.


Surrender for what and to whom? (none / 0) (#10)
by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 03:35:11 AM EST

Last I heard, Julian Assange has not been indicted on any charges. But if he really wants to surrender, then who am I to stop him?
;-D


: To the Swedes (none / 0) (#24)
by Peter G on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 03:20:12 PM EST

is how I understood his offer.

Another good candidate would be (5.00 / 3) (#4)
by Peter G on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 08:49:45 PM EST

former Ala. Gov. Don Siegelman, targeted by our friend Sessions' R.-Ala. cronies on politicized charges (in my opinion) and given an excessive sentence (definitely in my opinion). Due for release in about six months anyway, though.

: He also ought to pardon (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 10:47:48 PM EST

Kim Dotcom and end that extradition proceeding which has been going on since 2012. But Dotcom has been so critical of Obama, I doubt he filed a petition for a pardon.

: he also should grant clemency to (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 10:56:36 PM EST

Sholom Rubashkin, the guy who ran Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa and got 27 years for fraud (it all began with an immigration raid.) He's hardly a sympathetic character, but more than 100 former federal judges and attorney generals say he's the victim of big time prosecutorial misconduct.

James Reynolds, former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, calls the prosecutors' actions "insidious" "and says that "had this kind of unfair, underhanded and unnecessary misconduct occurred during my tenure, you can be absolutely certain that the perpetrators would have faced consequences, the very least of which would have been the loss of their job."
Rubashkin's 27-year prison sentence can be justified any number of ways -- but not if prosecutorial misconduct was involved. Just as the head of Agriprocessors was forced to answer for his crimes, the U.S. Attorney's Office should be forced to answer for its actions in USA vs. Rubashkin.

It certainly embodies going high (none / 0) (#1)
by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 17, 2017 at 07:38:49 PM EST

When your enemy goes low and is gnawing on your ankles...and paying that BS no mind, only attentive to the business at hand.

Yeah uh....about Obama having no legacy...uh no!

So happy... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 08:18:52 AM EST

the torture of Chelsea Manning will end and end relatively soon.

One more Me. Pres, don't stop now...commute and pardon till authoritarian heads explode. It's a legacy history will smile upon, and one Trump and Co. can't undo.

Err... (none / 0) (#13)
by kdog on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 08:19:31 AM EST

That's one more day, Mr. Pres.

Well, the Repubs say that Manning (none / 0) (#14)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 09:39:30 AM EST

should be punished for releasing 700,000 government documents that greatly harmed our defense capability, intelligence gathering capability and foreign policy but aren't all that angry about Assange releasing documents from a private email server that embarrassed the Demos.

OTOH the Demos are outraged that Assange showed the world what various Demos thought about each other but cheer Manning's release in spite of the damage done.

There's a story there.

Patriots say that Manning (5.00 / 2) (#15)
by Repack Rider on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 09:43:22 AM EST

...exposed a lot of corruption and violations of the Fourth Amendment.

That would be one of the differences between Republicans and Patriots.


Manning exposed how soldiers were easily (none / 0) (#20)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 12:44:04 PM EST

Exploited under DADT too. I still believe that his leak is what ended DADT. He was an awarded analyst, but when he admitted that he was gay to the Chaplain the Chaplain turned him in. He was going to be discharged. Manning was being abused by his female and also gay commander. DADT promoted an environment where gay soldiers could become isolated from everyone else and unable to report abuse because it involved being "gay". Manning's commander was having sexual relations with subordinates (also iilegal), and then this "pack" would then bully Manning. Terrible situation.


Patriots also say (none / 0) (#33)
by TrevorBolder on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 05:41:35 AM EST

That Assange exposed the corruption within the peoples party, the Democrats!

So which leaking of data actually got people killed.


Those aren't "patriots" (none / 0) (#34)
by Yman on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 07:52:15 AM EST

They're wingnut conservatives and should be ignored.


Yeah, (none / 0) (#38)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 07:42:54 PM EST

only a wingnut would think that being a Putin stooge was "patriotic".


I thought it was (1.00 / 1) (#39)
by TrevorBolder on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 08:17:34 PM EST

Very patriotic that the corrupt Democrat party was unmasked,
And perhaps they will not run a fake primary with a predetermined winner.


: Not a surprise (none / 0) (#40)
by Yman on Fri Jan 20, 2017 at 10:52:55 AM EST

A lot of Trump supporters/defenders believe that false claims and silly conspiracy theories are "patriotic".
It's how he won. Ends justify the means ...

Democrats are outraged (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Yman on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 11:02:24 AM EST

... that a foreign demagogue would interfere with one of our most sacred institutions and our fundamental rights.

Republicans are just fine with it, as long as it helps them.

There's nothing surprising about that.


The story (none / 0) (#16)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 10:12:39 AM EST

there is that Obama put Trump's head in a vise. Manning has served time already. Manning is going to be released still carrying a felony record. So what is Trump going to do about his buddy Assange? A trial here in the US would be very embarrassing for Trump and probably cement evidence that Trump was colluding with Putin or is he going to give Assange a pardon? You tell me?


heavy-handed oversimplifications (none / 0) (#25)
by jondee on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 03:49:08 PM EST

seem to be your stock-in-trade, Jim.

Too bad the world is a little more complicated than a bunch of Demos who All believe one thing and bunch of Repubs who All believe something else.

Prime example: there were many people on the libertarian right who believed, even more passionately than "the Demos", that Manning had been treated unjustly and "cheered her release" even though what she did "damaged our foreign policy."

But don't dwell on it too much, I know it makes your head hurt.


et al again (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 04:29:27 PM EST

Repack Rider - Are you saying that there were 700,000 cases of corruption and violations of the 4th Amendment?

MT - Sorry, but that doesn't work. Manng had other options besides release 700,000 classified files.

GA - Really?? How so? All Trump would have to do is just let the normal chain of events occur for whatever crimes Assange is charged with. And you have no proof whatsoever in your continued wild statements re collusion between Trump, Assange and Putin.

And yes, Manning has served some time. But not enough. Not near enough.

Yman - Of course they are! Yes indeed! No doubt that it hurt the Demos has nothing to do with the outrage ....or that it was truthful and undeniable...

Jondee - Ah yes, the old "It's too complicated for you to understand" excuse. Well, this ain't my first rodeo. And I don't care who is for what he did it the facts are that real people were harmed and heaven knows what the longer effects are.

If you forgive Manning then you must also forgive Assange's release of the DNC emails. When pigs fly...right? '-)

KeysDan - He may or may not have been delusional. But the question is this. Did he know the difference between right and wrong?


et Jim (none / 0) (#27)
by jondee on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 05:00:37 PM EST

It obviously Is too complicated for you and some others.

Though, I suppose I'd have trouble thinking about these things too, if I'd spent last decade imbibing Fox and talk radio like mother's milk.

Certain capabilities atrophy from lack of use after awhile.

Btw, I see Trump nominated one of them climate science "hoaxers" for Secretary of the Interior. Does that mean he might be another secret-muslim, America-hater out to destroy our economy like Obama?


Embrace your Russian comrades! (none / 0) (#28)
by Yman on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 05:33:41 PM EST

"Truthful and undeniable"? - Heh - that's funny.

Trump and his supporters wouldn't know the first thing about truth ... or facts ... or logic ... or intellectual honesty ...


: Interesting that up until very recently (none / 0) (#29)
by jondee on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 06:12:49 PM EST

the Right expressed almost the exact same attitude toward Assange that they're now expressing about Chelsea Manning.
Now the wingnut troll community sound like they're on the verge of nominating Julian for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
And the people who networked with hostile governments to help them carry an election, are laughably turning Chelsea Manning into a symbol of actions that endanger our national security.

Well now Jim (none / 0) (#31)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 07:12:46 PM EST

Everyone military affiliated bends to the chain of command. Chain of command IS EVERYTHING. You can go ahead and blah blah blah but the commander is the commander and that person gets to decide what the mission is, how that mission is accomplished, and when the desired result has been arrived at. Manning' s commander said the desired result in military terms has been arrived at. It isn't for you or I to say phucking sh*t about this really. We will of course have a personal opinion but it matters not one fig. This was between Manning and his command. When Trump is the commander he gets to tell the military what the mission is, how that will be preformed, and when mission is met. That's life as a soldier or military affiliated.


MT (none / 0) (#35)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 09:18:36 AM EST

"It isn't for you or I to say phucking sh*t about this really.

Then Truman shouldn't have fired MacArthur?? And here I thought the civilian's were the boss of the military... Thanks for a great example of why we should not have a all volunteer military. BTW - the head shed opposed Manning's being set free.


: Civilian authority doesn't exist within (none / 0) (#36)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 10:39:03 AM EST

The ranks. You know that. You just don't like being reminded of simple truth.

That's some interesting "logic" (none / 0) (#32)
by Yman on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 08:33:34 PM EST

But okay. Based on your "logic", Assange gets to spend 7 years in prison then her gets forgiven.

"When pigs fly", right? :)


: Seven very abusive years (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 19, 2017 at 10:40:02 AM EST

In solitary confinement and naked

President Obama (none / 0) (#17)
by KeysDan on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 10:54:58 AM EST

has overlooked Sgt. Bowie Bergdahl. A pre-emptive pardon would avert the court-martial trial scheduled for this spring, on charges of desertion/misbehavior/endangering troops.

Bergdahl seemed to have become a proxy for Republican ill-will toward President Obama, particularly the exchange conditions with Taliban detainees.

However, two independent Army fact finders determined that Bergdahl was truthful, but delusional. The Secretary of Defense, based on investigations by Army officers, found that troops were not endangered or harmed in searches. The Army investigators recommended that a special court-martial be held and that Bergdahlface no jail time.

Senator John McCain inappropriately interfered, in my view, in the military justice system introducing prejudice into the decision-making. McCain declared that he would hold hearings, as chair of the Armed Services Committee, if Bergdahl was not punished. And, military officers, including generals come before his committee in consideration of promotions.

Disregarding recommendations, General Abrams called for a general court-martial with the possibility of punishment in terms of long imprisonment.

A fair trial will be complicated in that Trump has proclaimed Bergdahl to be "a dirty rotten traitor," and "a no-good traitor who should be executed."

Has anyone petitioned the President? (none / 0) (#21)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 12:46:47 PM EST

Bergdahl (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by KeysDan on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 01:33:07 PM EST

did apply.


: Thank you KeysDan (none / 0) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 02:31:05 PM EST

I would be supportive of the President ending this.

Ian Schrager (none / 0) (#19)
by pitachips on Wed Jan 18, 2017 at 11:46:39 AM EST

if you're willing to take heat for a pardon (which he will for this one) why choose a 70 yr old multimillionaire for whom the conviction never placed any sort of limitation on his ability to rebuild his life?