Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he had pardoned 39 individuals convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others serving lengthy prison terms. These actions follow his recent unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, and come amid calls for broader clemency from civil rights advocates.
Biden emphasized that many of those granted clemency would have faced shorter sentences under current laws and policies. Sources revealed that the pardons focused on individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses and others identified by civil rights groups as unjustly incarcerated. “As president, I have the privilege of extending mercy to those who’ve shown remorse and rehabilitation,” Biden said, highlighting his efforts to address sentencing disparities.
The commutations largely applied to individuals placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate virus spread. Advocates, however, urged Biden to consider clemency for a broader range of cases. Tierra Bradford of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights encouraged Biden to use his authority more expansively in his remaining weeks in office.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley commended Biden’s actions as “meaningful and historic” while urging further use of his clemency powers. The White House noted these clemencies marked the highest number granted in a single day.
President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office on Jan. 20, has announced plans to pardon those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, fueling expectations of sweeping clemency actions under his administration.
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