“President Obama’s power to commute federal prison sentences is not in doubt. But 6th District Rep. Bob Goodlatte said he is “deeply concerned” about the size and scope of those commutations — including the 214 approved Wednesday — saying the president’s actions are a “blatant usurpation” of Congress’s authority.
“With Wednesday’s reductions in federal prison terms, the president has now commuted 562 sentences during his nearly two terms in office. Two of the inmates in Wednesday’s commutations are from Augusta County. One is locked up on drug charges, and the other is in prison on both drug and gun offenses.”