Deborah Leff

Deborah Leff

Former Justice Dept. Pardon attorney suggests broken system in resignation letter

Former Pardon Attorney Deborah Leff resigned in January after less than two years as the official responsible for making clemency recommendations for the president. Her resignation letter, which was obtained by USA TODAY after making a Freedom of Information Act request, suggests a broken and bureaucratic process at odds with President Obama's own aim to exercise his pardon power "More aggressively" in the final months of his presidency. Ref. USAToday.