Newsroom
President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others convicted of non-violent crimes, marking one of the largest single-day uses of presidential clemency in modern history. This action comes as Biden’s first term nears its end, with growing calls for him to grant more clemencies before leaving office.
The commutations affect individuals who were placed on home confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic and demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation. They were considered to have successfully reintegrated into their communities. The 39 pardoned individuals, convicted of non-violent offenses, have shown substantial personal growth, such as securing jobs, advancing their education, and becoming active contributors to their communities.
Biden framed the decision as part of his broader effort to provide second chances, emphasizing the importance of redemption and removing sentencing disparities, especially for those convicted of drug offenses. He highlighted the significant steps these individuals had taken to turn their lives around, pointing to people like a decorated military veteran helping his community, a nurse who contributed to disaster relief and vaccination efforts, and an addiction counselor dedicated to mentoring young men of color.
The announcement is expected to be well-received by human rights advocates, Democratic lawmakers, and the families of those granted clemency. It also adds to a series of high-profile pardons and commutations by Biden, which have included military veterans convicted of having gay sex (a crime under old military law) and individuals convicted of marijuana possession.
However, Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, earlier this week has sparked some controversy, especially among Democrats. Critics, including some of Biden’s own allies, expressed concerns about the timing, given the president had previously said he would not issue such a pardon. Despite the backlash, White House officials insist that this hasn’t influenced Biden’s approach to clemency, which remains focused on advancing justice, promoting rehabilitation, and correcting past wrongs in the criminal justice system.
With just a few weeks left in his term, Biden has promised to continue reviewing clemency petitions and will announce further actions in the coming weeks. The White House Counsel’s office and the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney have been working together to evaluate clemency options. Biden said he will keep pushing for policies that provide meaningful second chances and further advance equal justice under the law.
With info from CNN
