House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday urged President Joe Biden to extend his pardon power to working-class Americans following criticism over the president’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
In a statement, Jeffries said, “During his final weeks in office, President Biden should demonstrate the compassion he has shown throughout his life, including toward his son, by granting case-by-case pardons to working-class Americans in federal prison for nonviolent offenses resulting from overly aggressive prosecutions.”
President Biden, set to leave office on January 20, had long stated he would not pardon his son, who was convicted of lying about his drug addiction while purchasing a firearm and pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. However, the sweeping pardon he issued covered all potential crimes Hunter Biden committed from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. Biden justified the decision by calling his son a victim of politically motivated prosecution.
The pardon sparked backlash from Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, and criticism from some Democrats. Senator Ben Cardin voiced concern, saying, “We must restore trust in an independent judiciary, and this decision doesn’t help.”
Jeffries’ call follows a letter signed by 60 Democratic lawmakers last month urging Biden to address systemic injustices in the legal system through his pardon power. The letter highlighted the disproportionate incarceration of people of color, low-income individuals, LGBTQ individuals, and those with disabilities, noting that 90% of federal inmates were convicted of nonviolent offenses.
Critics argue the Hunter Biden pardon has further eroded public trust in the judiciary, while Jeffries and others advocate for a broader use of presidential clemency to rectify long-standing inequities.
Also read: President Biden Pardons Son Hunter, Cites Selective Prosecution
