In the 2016 election, prison and sentencing reform were among my top issues. The number of people America incarcerates is a national disgrace. The Bible is clear about seeking justice for prisoners. Jesus himself, in stating in Luke what he had been anointed to do, included “proclaim liberty to the captives” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed.” He spoke of remembering those in prison, and said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”

For that reason, I appreciate that President Obama pardoned or commuted the sentences of 1,927 persons. Most were convicted of low-level, non-violent drug crimes, though 500 were nevertheless serving life sentences. Many were victims of mandatory sentencing and over-zealous Three Strikes laws, which mandated life sentences even for minor crimes.

Among those he pardoned, there is only one name you might recognize: Chelsea Manning. The rest were anonymous, forgotten men and women with only this one last recourse. I honor President Obama for focusing on people like this–people society normally casts aside and prefers to forget about. Most likely, all of these were persons Obama didn’t know personally, people he’d never heard of. But a recommendation came to him from the Justice department, and he conscientiously and responsibly used his presidential power to “set the captive free.”

I’m delighted that President Trump is showing the same deep concern for the powerless, the voiceless, the forgotten, the oppressed, the victims of systemic injustice. He has now pardoned six people, and is looking to pardon two more.

• Republican sheriff, fellow birther, and now Senate candidate Joe Arpaio.
• Republican Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to VP Dick Cheney.
• Kristian Mark Saucier, a former sailor who made his case on Fox & Friends, the President’s favorite news show.
• Businessman Sholom Rubashkin.
• Deceased (in 1946) black boxer Jack Johnson, whose case was championed to Trump by Republican actor Sylvester Stallone.
• Republican activist and filmaker Dinesh D’Souza.

Today, President Trump said he is considering pardons for two more persons from his Apprentice TV show:

• Democratic governor and former Apprentice contestant Rod Blagojevich.
• Cooking mogul Martha Stewart, who led a spin-off of the Apprentice.

For all of these people, a Presidential pardon or commutation might be their last hope of clearing the hurdles needed to make something of their lives.