The White House on Thursday released a list of 39 names President Joe Biden has pardoned, as well as a list of about 1,500 people whose sentences have been commuted.
Biden's action sets a record for single-day pardons under previous presidents, and comes after Biden pardoned his son Hunter earlier this month. Following his son's controversial pardon, Biden faced pressure from within the Democratic Party to grant additional pardons.
Biden said Thursday he would take further steps in the coming weeks before leaving the Oval Office.
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President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
“My administration will advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. We will continue to consider the petition for clemency in order to provide the following.”
A list provided by the White House to Fox News Digital showed that all 39 pardons were granted only to nonviolent offenders, many of whom had been convicted of drug offenses. The list includes drug offenders as well, but no other details are provided for the non-violent, non-drug offenses included in the 39-person pardon list.
The list detailed why each of the 39 pardons was deserving, citing examples of community involvement, professional and academic accomplishments.
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Biden said of the roughly 1,500 sentences he commuted, long prison terms would have been shorter under current law. He said all those selected had been under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, but had “successfully reintegrated into their families and communities and shown they deserved a second chance.” said.
Those taking part in this massive action included decorated veterans and pilots, nurses who led vaccination efforts during the pandemic, and addiction counselors who help young people avoid drugs. was.
Biden has not reserved pardons or commutations until the end of his term. In April 2022, he first granted pardons to 75 people convicted of drug offenses and others on home confinement as part of a provision in Congress' pandemic relief bill. This action was followed in December of the same year by the pardon of six people convicted of alcohol and drug-related offences.
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From April 2023 to April 2024, Biden granted 47 additional commutations and 11 pardons to people under house arrest or convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.
