At Dream.Org, we believe in second chances. But a recent action by the Department of Justice could mean the end of second chances in the future.

In 2020, Philip Esformes was given his own second chance when President Trump granted him clemency, citing gross prosecutorial misconduct, good behavior, and declining health. Clemency meant giving Philip an opportunity to right his wrongs outside prison walls and reunite with his family. But despite Trump’s commutation of Esformes’ sentence, the current administration is dead set on throwing him back behind bars, an unheard-of act that breaks decades of respect for the sanctity of presidential clemency. 

Thanks to the clemency, pardon, and commutation powers granted to the President in our Constitution, tens of thousands of people have received a second chance from our nation's leaders since our founding. Once granted clemency, these people were allowed to reenter society with a new lease on life. But, in what is being called an unprecedented prosecution, the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) wants to retry Esformes and send him back to prison. 

The potential consequences here are clear: The DOJ’s dubious plan to retry Philip Esformes will set a dangerous precedent for others. Future Republican administrations might find ways to vengefully persecute people who had received clemency under a Democratic administration. This would weaken the significance of the president's constitutional power to grant clemency.

There's no sugarcoating it: Esformes was accused of significant financial crimes, and under Trump’s clemency order is still required to pay significant fines. But Esformes is not the issue. The next commutation or pardon is. If the Biden administration succeeds in re-prosecuting Esformes, no person who receives a pardon or commutation will ever truly be safe from the threat of additional, retaliatory punishment at the hands of a new president.

Stand up for second chances! Urge the DOJ to drop its prosecution, protect the sanctity of the presidential power to grant clemency, and the gift of a second chance. Allow Philip Esformes to continue his post-prison life with his family and service to the community. Sign the petition and tell the Biden Administration not to play politics with clemency.