Congressman Cohen Recommends Trump Commute Sentences of Non-Violent Drug Offenders

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today sent a letter to President Trump recommending he commute the sentences of non-violent drug offenders. See the letter here.

Trump last year commuted the sentence of Congressman Cohen's constituent, Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for a non-violent drug offense, at the suggestion of reality television celebrity Kim Kardashian.

See Congressman Cohen's letter here and here:

Dear President Trump:

Last year, you commuted the life prison sentence of my constituent, Alice Marie Johnson, for a non-violent drug offense. It was the right thing to do and I'm pleased Ms. Johnson has returned to society in a responsible way. I am writing to recommend that you similarly commute the sentences of another roughly 16,000 non-violent drug offenders who deserve the same relief.

President Obama set up a special program to expedite the release of non-violent drug offenders late in his presidency, ultimately commuting a total of 1,715.

The thousands serving time for non-violent drug offenses don't have Kim Kardashian to plead their cases for clemency but are just as deserving of the relief. Beyond the question of righting an injustice, commutation would relieve taxpayers of the cost of unnecessary incarceration. These non-violent drug offenders should be released based on their records, not on celebrity endorsements.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Please do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress