You're right, if he was going to do this much, he should have pardoned. Commuting his sentence is disrespectful of the jury system and calls the process of law into opprobrium. Pardoning someone the President feels was railroaded is the privilege of the Executive, but a commutation is like saying "Sure, he was guilty, but fuck you anyway." He said he was "respectful of the jury's decision", but he immediately and with no apologies disrespected the jury's decision.

Of course, none of this really matters. What are we gonna do, not vote for him the next time? Lower his approval rating? This administration has done what it came to do, and now it's time to stagnate.