In a historic use of presidential clemency powers, President Joe Biden granted clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals on Thursday, marking the largest single-day exercise of such authority in modern U.S. history.
The sweeping action includes approximately 1,500 sentence commutations for individuals moved to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and 39 pardons for non-violent offenders who have demonstrated rehabilitation.
Focus on Rehabilitation and Second Chances
The majority of the commutations were granted to individuals who had served at least one year on home confinement under the CARES Act. Passed in March 2020, the law allowed the Bureau of Prisons to transfer eligible federal inmates to home confinement to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. Those eligible for the commutations had to demonstrate successful rehabilitation, including securing employment and pursuing education.
The 39 pardons targeted individuals convicted of non-violent crimes who, according to the White House, had “turned their lives around.”
A Continued Commitment to Clemency
This move builds on President Biden’s prior clemency actions, including categorical pardons for those convicted of simple marijuana possession and for LGBTQ+ service members prosecuted for offenses related to their sexual orientation.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized the importance of second chances:
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances. As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”
Biden also reaffirmed his commitment to reviewing clemency petitions and granting pardons in the coming weeks, underscoring his administration’s focus on criminal justice reform and reducing sentencing disparities.
Controversy Over Hunter Biden Pardon
Earlier this month, Biden faced criticism for granting a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, for all federal offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. Hunter Biden recently pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and was convicted on federal gun charges earlier this year.
Presidential Clemency Powers
The U.S. Constitution grants presidents broad clemency powers, often used by outgoing presidents to issue controversial pardons. Biden’s decision to undertake such sweeping actions with over a month left in office signals a proactive approach to addressing longstanding issues within the criminal justice system.
