U.S. President Joe Biden has just over a month left in office, and during this time, he has been granting clemency to many offenders.
In a single day, he pardoned 39 individuals convicted of non-violent offenses and reduced the sentences of nearly 1,500 long-term prisoners. This news was reported by Reuters on Friday (December 13).
According to the report, President Biden stated on Thursday that he pardoned 39 people convicted of non-violent offenses and commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 others serving long-term prison terms.
This move comes just over a week after the outgoing president unconditionally pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. The act of granting clemency to so many individuals in one day is unprecedented in U.S. history for any president.
Biden remarked that the individuals he pardoned would have received lighter sentences under today’s laws, policies, and practices.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that many of those pardoned had been placed under house arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 39 individuals, some had been serving sentences for non-violent offenses, such as marijuana use.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after President Biden pardoned his son, Hunter. In June, Hunter was convicted of charges related to firearm possession and tax evasion.
At the time, Biden’s decision faced strong criticism from both Republican and Democratic leaders, as he had previously stated that he would not pardon his son. Ultimately, however, he invoked the president’s special powers to grant clemency to Hunter.
The White House issued a statement noting that Biden’s decision represents his commitment to reuniting separated families, fostering harmony within communities, and reintegrating individuals back into their families.