Trump commutes sentence of John Dougherty

President Donald Trump has commuted the federal prison sentence of John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, a former business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, his attorney confirmed. Dougherty, a prominent Philadelphia labor leader, was expected to be released from a federal penitentiary on Friday, September 4, 2026. The commutation, signed by Trump on Thursday, September 3, 2026, allows for Dougherty's early release from a six-year sentence imposed in July 2024. His attorney, George Bochetto, stated the primary reason for the commutation was Dougherty's need to care for his gravely ill wife, Cecilia Dougherty. Bochetto indicated that Dougherty would be released without monitoring or house arrest and would also be freed from approximately $1.6 million in restitution obligations. Dougherty was convicted of embezzling union funds and bribing a Philadelphia City Council member. Prosecutors had argued against his early release, contending he had not served sufficient time. As of Thursday evening, official records from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Pardon Attorney had not yet reflected the commutation.