David Coale Discusses Commutation in Reality Winner’s Case

The family of Reality Winner, a former government contractor, has asked President Trump to reduce her prison sentence. Winner is serving time for leaking government documents about Russian interference in the 2016 elections to the media. The family’s attorney says President Trump has already expressed that Winner’s sentence was “unfair.” LPHS partner David Coale says asking President Trump to commute Winner’s sentence is not out of the ordinary. “This presentation is right out of our First Amendment, which guarantees, in addition to speech and religion, the right to petition government for the redress of grievances.”