President Biden, seen right here on Dec. 10, 2024, mentioned he plans to situation extra pardons and commutations within the remaining weeks of his presidency.
Jim Watson/AFP
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Jim Watson/AFP
President Biden on Thursday introduced he’s commuting the jail sentences for almost 1,500 folks and pardoning 39 others in what the White House said was the most important act of clemency in a single day in trendy presidential historical past.
The 1,500 folks — whose names weren’t instantly supplied — had been serving lengthy jail sentences that might have been shorter below in the present day’s legal guidelines and practices. That they had been on dwelling confinement for the reason that COVID pandemic and Biden mentioned that they had efficiently reintegrated into their communities.
The pardons went to folks — additionally unnamed — who had been convicted of nonviolent crimes, together with drug offenses, who the White Home mentioned had “turned their lives round.”
It has develop into a latest conventional for presidents to train their pardon energy with a flurry of pardons and commutations on the finish of their time in workplace. Democratic lawmakers and advocates are lobbying Biden to commute the sentences of the 40 folks on federal loss of life row and use his clemency energy to start to deal with sentencing disparities and mass incarceration.
Biden mentioned he plans to take extra steps in his remaining weeks within the White Home.
“My Administration will proceed reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice below the regulation, promote public security, help rehabilitation and reentry, and supply significant second possibilities,” Biden mentioned.
Biden remains to be getting criticized for his choice earlier this month to situation a blanket pardon to his son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted on gun and tax costs. It was a private choice the White Home says, made exterior of the established course of for figuring out presidential pardons and commutations.
Even earlier than Thursday’s announcement, Biden had issued extra commutations than every other latest president by this level of their first time period, the White Home mentioned.
Biden has additionally issued categorical pardons to folks convicted below federal regulation of easy use or possession of marijuana, and to LGBTQ+ individuals who had been convicted due to the sexual orientation whereas serving within the navy.
