President Biden's latest wave of clemency actions has set new records in presidential pardoning history.
According to Fox News, the president announced Friday morning the commutation of sentences for nearly 2,500 inmates convicted of non-violent drug offenses, marking one of his final major executive actions before leaving office.
The commutations target individuals serving extended sentences due to outdated distinctions between crack and powder cocaine offenses. These cases represent what Biden describes as disproportionate punishments compared to current sentencing guidelines.
The move builds upon the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018, which aimed to address historical sentencing disparities.
Biden's clemency decisions have faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle. His December action of commuting sentences for 37 of 40 federal death row inmates sparked particular controversy. The decision effectively changed their sentences from death to life imprisonment without parole.
The president's pardoning choices have drawn additional scrutiny following his controversial decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden. The pardon covers all crimes Hunter "has committed or may have committed" against U.S. law during a specific timeframe from January 2014 to December 2024. This action came after Hunter's conviction in separate federal cases involving gun and tax crimes.
In December, Biden executed what he termed the "largest single-day grant of clemency," which included sentence commutations for 1,500 individuals and pardons for 39 others. Many of these individuals were already serving their sentences under home confinement due to COVID-19-related policies.
President Biden stated his position on the latest round of commutations, highlighting the administration's focus on addressing historical injustices in the criminal justice system:
Today's clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes.
The president further emphasized the significance of this action:
This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.
These actions have positioned Biden as the president who has issued more individual pardons and commutations than any other in U.S. history. The Department of Justice statistics from January 13 indicate that approximately 1,947 individuals are still awaiting pardons upon completion of their sentences, while roughly 6,625 cases remain pending for potential commutation following Friday's decision.
The administration's approach to clemency reflects a broader push for criminal justice reform in Biden's closing days as president. His unprecedented use of clemency powers has established new benchmarks in presidential pardoning history.
Biden has expressed pride in his clemency record and indicated his intention to continue reviewing additional commutation and pardon cases through January 19, his final full day in office. This commitment suggests more clemency actions may be forthcoming in the president's remaining time.
The scope and timing of these actions underscore the significant impact presidential clemency powers can have on the criminal justice system. As Biden prepares to leave office, his final wave of commutations represents one of the most substantial exercises of presidential pardoning power in American history.
