Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
US PRESIDENT BARACK Obama is said to be considering reducing Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence.
The former army intelligence analyst has served seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking classified material.
NBC News reports that Manning is among those on a short list for commutation.
Manning has attempted suicide twice in prison and went on a hunger strike before the US Army agreed to pay for gender reassignment surgery.
In a statement, her lawyer Chase Strangio said: “The Obama administration has done many commendable things to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, but in the case of Chelsea Manning they have systematically mistreated her and denied her access to medically recommended gender-related healthcare.
Chelsea won’t survive another five years in prison, much less another 30. President Obama has nine days to do the right thing and commute her sentence.
“The world is watching, and we hope that he stands on the side of justice, and that his legacy will be one of standing up for trans people’s rights, not having extinguished one of our community’s brightest lights.”
Pardons
Presidents have two clemency options: commutations, which reduce sentences being served but don’t erase convictions, and pardons, which generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.
Obama has granted 1,176 commutations and 148 pardons — fewer pardons than some presidents, but more commutations than any other, the White House said.
His goal in taking on the commutations project was to spur action in Congress on a criminal justice overhaul. That seemed initially promising, but the momentum petered out.
“It’s politically risky. You commute somebody and they commit a crime, and the politics of it are tough,” Obama previously said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The pronunciation of Saoirse as ” Sursha ” is a new one on me .
Seersha
Seer – sheh
Sair-sha.
Suspect that she knows how to pronounce her own name
Seer-shu-sheesh
looks like they nailed it
If they can get used Sean,Liam , sinead ,,eamon ,surely Americans can say saoirse
Or SER-SHA to the ordinary everyday Irish person.
SUR-SHA is how it’s pronounced in that pretentious Dublin accent
Does Ellen need glasses ? Does she do that gay dance
Saoirse should explain to the Americans that her name means Freedom in Irish and should not be confused with Sheorse which is the Irish for George.
have your say