Killer of Syracuse cop Wallie Howard, set free by Trump, faces possible return to prison

Howard was convicted in 2006 of killing Syracuse police officer Wallie Howard Jr. in 1973

Howard, 72, was granted clemency by Trump in his final hours in office in January 2021.

A federal judge ruled in August 2022 that Trump's grant of clemency was invalid because Howard had not exhausted his appeals.

The judge's ruling means that Howard could be returned to prison to serve the remainder of his life sentence

Howard's case has drawn national attention, as it is one of the few cases in which a president has granted clemency to a person convicted of killing a police officer.

The case has also raised questions about the scope of the president's clemency power

The Justice Department is currently appealing the judge's ruling.

What is clemency?

Clemency is a power granted to the president by the Constitution to pardon or reduce the sentence of a person who has been convicted of a federal crime.

What are the different types of clemency?

There are three main types of clemency:

• Pardon:** A pardon is a complete forgiveness of a crime. A person who is pardoned is no longer considered to be a criminal and does not have to serve any time in prison.
• Commutation:** A commutation is a reduction of a sentence. A person who is granted commutation may have their sentence reduced from life in prison to a term of years, or from a long term of years to a shorter term.
• Remission:** A remission is a cancellation of a fine or penalty. A person who is granted remission does not have to pay the fine or penalty.

Who is eligible for clemency?

Any person who has been convicted of a federal crime is eligible for clemency.

How do I apply for clemency?

To apply for clemency, you must submit a petition to the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice.

What are the chances of getting clemency?

The chances of getting clemency are very low. In 2020, the president granted clemency to 143 people out of a total of 19,311 applications.