President Joe Biden continued his last-minute pardon blitz, announcing Friday morning that he would commute the sentences of an additional 2,500 people.
a press release A report from the White House revealed that all of the convicted felons were convicted of non-violent drug crimes.
“It will forever define President Biden’s legacy.”
Biden argued that these individuals are “serving sentences that are disproportionately long compared to what they would receive today under current laws, policies, and practices.”
The outgoing president, who announced 1,500 job cuts and 39 pardons in December, boasted about his recent moves.
“With this action, I have granted more individual pardons and commutations than any president in American history,” his statement read.
“Today’s amnesty action will result in outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes and individuals who received long sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine,” Biden continued. . “As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, now is the time to equalize these sentencing disparities.”
He said this is “an important step to righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals with an opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending too much time in prison.” “One step,” he said.
Biden has indicated he plans to order additional commutations and pardons in his final days as president.
FWD.us is a political organization advocating for immigration and criminal justice reform. I clapped Biden has decided to commute thousands of sentences.
Zoe Towns, executive director of the organization, said: said“These final clemency actions will forever define President Biden's legacy on justice.”
“We are grateful for President Biden's final act of leadership that delivered relief, justice, and mercy to thousands of people and, importantly, called attention to the harms of extreme sentencing and the benefits of reform. ” she added.
Last month, the president faced bipartisan condemnation for reneging on his promise to grant a broad pardon to his son Hunter Biden.
He also commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal death row inmates, allowing them to avoid execution and instead spend life in prison. One of them was a convicted serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered two girls, ages 8 and 9.
Republicans responded to Biden's actions as follows: post With X.
“Joe Biden granted clemency to dozens of death row inmates upon their release from prison. In five days, we will have a president who will prioritize victims and their families over ruthless criminals.”
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