Presidential Commutation Secured For John Dougherty Following Unrelenting Legal And Humanitarian Advocacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Following months of tireless legal effort and relentless advocacy, Bochetto & Lentz partner George Bochetto has successfully secured an Executive Grant of Clemency from President Donald J. Trump, commuting the federal sentence of longtime union leader John Dougherty and granting him immediate release to care for his gravely ill wife. 

For additional coverage on this story, read the front-page reporting in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

While Bochetto & Lentz did not serve as Dougherty’s criminal defense counsel, the firm has represented him and IBEW Local 98 across a range of civil and legal matters over many years. When standard post-conviction relief stalled, George Bochetto took on the distinct effort to secure his release, systematically pursuing compassionate release through the federal courts. 

Bochetto presented extensive evidence of severe family hardship to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl and subsequently to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. When those judicial avenues were fully exhausted, the firm pivoted immediately to executive clemency, maintaining direct communication with White House staff and preparing a comprehensive petition for presidential consideration.

The application rested strictly on compelling humanitarian grounds. Dougherty’s wife, Cecilia, suffers from a debilitating, progressive brain injury that has left her paralyzed and nonverbal. Following the passing of her father, who had served as her primary caregiver, the family faced a critical caregiving crisis.

Recognizing these dire personal circumstances, President Trump signed the official Executive Grant of Clemency on September 3, 2026, granting an immediate commutation to time served with no further house arrest, fines, or monitoring conditions. 

Bochetto characterized the President’s decision as a “magnificent gesture of compassion.” Released from the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Dougherty is now home to provide the essential, round-the-clock care his wife requires.