President Joe Biden announced today the commutation of the sentences of some 1,500 people and pardons for 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. The President, who has been under increasing pressure to grant more clemency before leaving office, also promised that further actions will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Joe Biden was amply criticized last week for granting a full and unconditional pardon to his son Hunter, after repeatedly insisting for several months that he would not do so. The move sparked an uproar, including among some of the President’s allies and fellow Democrats who questioned his decision to renege on his word.
The nearly 1,500 people whose lengthy sentences will be commuted were placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and, according to the White House, have demonstrated a clear commitment to rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities. The 39 people to be pardoned were convicted of nonviolent crimes and are believed to have demonstrated significant contributions to the country.
“These actions represent the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history” declared the White House. “Together, these actions build on the President’s record of criminal justice reform to help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society. The President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms. He is also the first President ever to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of marijuana, and to former LGBTQI+ service members convicted of private conduct because of their sexual orientation. In the coming weeks, the President will take additional steps to provide meaningful second chances and continue to review additional pardons and commutations”.
The White House offered several examples: among the concerned people are a decorated military veteran, described as one who devoted much of his time to helping members of his community, including the sick and elderly; a nurse who is said to have helped during natural disasters and was at the forefront of vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic; an addiction counselor, recognized for his dedication to mentoring young Black men.
The announcement will be widely celebrated by human rights activists. Biden had previously pardoned military veterans convicted of having gay sex—at one time a crime under military law—and has also pardoned people convicted of marijuana possession.
