President Obama has commuted much of the remaining prison sentence for Chelsea Manning, the army intelligence analyst who leaked sensitive intel in 2010.
Manning, who underwent gender transition surgery last year, was facing a 35-year sentence for exposing the Army documents. Her actions also introduced us to Julian Assange's WikiLeaks. Yet, Manning will only have served seven years in prison as Obama’s announcement guarantees her a May release.
Some of the other commutations Obama granted on Tuesday included prisoners who faced life sentences for drug charges. In all, he shortened the sentences of 209 convicts and offered 64 pardons.
This isn't the first time Obama has set a record with his commutations. In December, he granted 153 commutations in a single day.
The White House said on Tuesday that the president's pardons will give these Americans a "second chance."
BREAKING: With 209 commutations and 64 pardons, @POTUS just gave 273 Americans a second chance. Learn more ? https://t.co/t6Cs7NVqFA pic.twitter.com/FYrxSdqq8Q
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 17, 2017