President Biden will grant clemency to nearly 1,500 people and pardon 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes — a record-breaking action described by the White House on Thursday as the biggest single-day act of mercy in modern history.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement.
“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.”
The sweeping series of commutations primarily affect people already freed from prison. They were placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic — a move intended to slow the spread of the virus — and “have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities,” per the president’s statement. “The prisoners who will be pardoned, meanwhile, were placed behind bars for “nonviolent crimes, including drug offenses, and have turned their lives around,” he added.
A pardon erases a conviction, while a commutation leaves the guilty verdict intact but reduces the punishment.
While no names have been released, some of those pardoned include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters; a church deacon who has worked as an addiction counselor and youth counselor; a doctoral student in molecular biosciences, and a decorated military veteran.
“These individuals are parents, veterans, health care professionals, teachers, advocates and engaged members of their communities,” Biden said. “Many of them have used their experiences in the criminal justice system to inspire and encourage others.”
Biden’s historic act comes nearly two weeks after the he revealed he would issue a pardon for his son Hunter, who had been convicted of gun possession and income tax evasion.
The move sparked backlash from both sides of the aisle because Biden repeatedly promised he would not intervene in the judicial process.
It also comes amid calls for Biden to take additional action before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Dozens of lawmakers have called for the pardon of Steven Donziger, an environmental attorney jailed on a contempt charge stemming from his work representing Indigenous farmers in a lawsuit against Chevron.
Others have asked the president to commute the sentences of federal Death Row prisoners to life in prison without parole, mostly due to the fact that Trump believes in the death penalty and will likely reverse Biden’s pause on federal executions.
The president has already previously issued 122 commutations and 21 other pardons. He’s also broadly pardoned those convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, as well as former U.S. service members convicted of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex.
“I will take more steps in the weeks ahead,” Biden said. “My administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry and provide meaningful second chances.”
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