The Denver Broncos recently hit Washington, D.C. to commemorate their Super Bowl win. But for wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, the trip was a bit more personal. Thomas personally thanked President Barack Obama for granting clemency to Thomas’ mother back in 2015.
“We talked for a quick second. I told him, ‘I thank you for what you’ve done for my family [by] giving my mother clemency,” Thomas told reporters, according to comments distributed by the team.
Thomas also noted that Obama still remembered his decision to grant her clemency last year.
“Yeah, he knew,” Thomas said. “He held me back for a little second. Everybody was going by shaking his hand, and we had like a 45-second conversation. So it was cool.”
Thomas’ mother, Katina Smith, had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2000 for cocaine distribution. Smith was among 46 non-violent drug offenders to be granted clemency last year.
But, she isn’t the only family member that Demaryius Thomas hopes is pardoned.
“Also, we talked about my grandmother,” Thomas claimed. “Had the application to get everything done, and he’s looking into that, as well.”
Minnie Thomas, now 59 years old, was imprisoned for drug trafficking as well in 2000. Thomas has officially put in a request for her clemency to be granted.
“I did,” Thomas stated. “I had [Vice President of Public Relations] Patrick [Smyth] give it to him, and I wrote something thanking him, as well. A little couple points that my mom wanted me to say to him and a couple other things.”
Katina Smith was scheduled to be released in 2017. Minnie Smith carries a much heavier sentence, however, currently serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
