On Sunday, I noted how USA Today, the Associated Press, and the establishment press in general have swallowed the Obama administration's line that the 61 convicted and incarcerated criminals whose sentences the President commuted last Thursday were "low-level inmates" guilty of "low-level drug offenses." A spreadsheet working only from the information the White House provided demonstrates that this characterization was largely bogus.
Over at the Heritage Foundation's Daily Signal on Monday, Leah Jessen provided more damning detail about the certain of these criminals' "low-level" offenses — details which almost certainly won't be reported at national establishment press outlets (bolds are mine throughout this post):
Meet Some of the 61 Prisoners Whose Sentences Were Just Shortened by Obama
In his most recent round of clemency, President Barack Obama has reduced the sentences of 61 federal prisoners, allowing most to be freed within months.
The White House described those who won commuted sentences as mostly “low-level” drug offenders: 12 had been convicted of firearm crimes, eight of drug trafficking, and six of conspiracy or intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms (about 11 pounds) of cocaine.
The spreadsheet analysis shows that 23 of the 61 were convicted of distribution, and that 50 were convicted of "intent to distribute" (i.e., 12 were convicted of both). The White House's "clever" use of the term "drug offenders" is disingenuous, as every one of the 61 either distributed drugs or had enough evidence of involvement in distribution to be convicted of "intent to distribute." It's also reasonble to infer that many of those convicted of "intent to distribute" may have had actual distribution charges plea-bargained away in the name of expeditiousness.
As to the firearms charges, how can freeing the 12 accordingly convicted possibly be consistent with Obama's self-described "responsibility to do everything in his power to reduce gun violence"?
Now to Jessen's detail on a few of the 61 (links are in original):
Jerome Harris Jr., 40, sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2006, had been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of “intent to distribute crack and powder cocaine” and “knowingly using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.” There were six firearms involved.
Although Obama continues to stress the need to limit gun sales and combat “gun violence,” Earnest chose not to answer a reporter’s question about clemency recipients’ gun possession charges in connection with their crimes.
... In Mobile, Ala., Harris previously was convicted in a state court for possession of cocaine and marijuana “in addition to charges of receiving stolen property, robbery, assault, and carrying a pistol without a permit.”
... Carmel Bretous, 48, was convicted after being charged in 2001 in Miami, Fla., for trying to smuggle 110 pounds of cocaine, valued at $1 million, into the United States.
... Melissa Ross, 44, was convicted on charges of cocaine distribution involving “5 kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and 50 grams or more of cocaine base.”
Prosecutors said Ross was part of a $54 million cocaine ring and the right-hand assistant to her boyfriend, the mastermind.
The White House's description of Harris, Jr.'s crimes only mentions "a firearm," not six.
Its description of Bretous's crimes only mentions "at least five kilograms of cocaine," i.e., 11 pounds, not 110. Bretous was involved in international drug trafficking.
Ross's description as involving "five kilograms or more" is clearly incomplete, given the $54 million value just cited. Ross was clearly involved in what ordinary people would consider "organized crime."
One would think that the administration could have found more worthy recipients of presidential commutations than the three individuals just mentioned, as they appear on their not face not to fit the supposedly "rigorous" Department of Justice criteria Jessen identified in her column.
If there aren't more worthy candidates for future presidentiall commutations of so-called "low-level drug offenders," then most people would surely agree that Thursday actions should mark their end. Unfortunately, based on the fact, as Jessen noted, that "beginning Oct. 1, 2015, lawyers for inmates sent the Department of Justice 1,715 petitions for the commutation of sentences," and that "another 9,115 petitions were pending," it clearly won't be.
Forget about the press ever correcting the record about these falsely described "low-level inmates."
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
