When Demaryius Thomas visited the White House in June, he asked for President Barack Obama to consider granting his grandmother clemency. Two months later, his wish has been granted.
President Obama grants clemency to Demaryius Thomas’ grandmother
The president pardoned Thomas’ mother for a nonviolent drug offense last year.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
President Obama issued Wednesday a record-breaking 214 commutations for men or women who were serving lengthy sentences for nonviolent offenses. One of those inmates was Thomas’ grandmother, Minnie, who was sent to prison in 2000 for drug trafficking.
“This is a country that believes in second chances. So we’ve got to make sure that our criminal justice system works for everyone,” President Obama wrote in a Facebook post.
President Obama, who’s granted more clemencies while in office than the previous nine presidents combined, also pardoned Thomas’ mother, Katrina, last year. Katrina Thomas had been sentenced 20 years for cocaine distribution in 2000 as well.
The Denver Broncos receiver tweeted out thanks to the president:
Wanna Thank the @POTUS for everything he's done for my family, and a lot more families giving them second chances. Couldn't be a better day!
— Demaryius Thomas (@DemaryiusT) August 3, 2016
As a free woman, Thomas’ mom watched him play for the first time in his professional career this January, when the Broncos took on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Now this season, Thomas’ grandmother will have that chance.
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