US President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals and granted 39 pardons, making it the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history, the White House announced on Thursday morning.
Those whose sentences were commuted had been placed in home confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic and were noted to have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities, according to the White House.
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The 39 pardoned individuals are those who have been convicted of non-violent crimes.
Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions.
"I will take more steps in the weeks ahead. 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," stated the White House.
The second largest single-day act of clemency was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before leaving office in 2017.
This move comes after Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, over felony gun and tax charges.
Biden also faces pressure from advocacy groups to pardon large groups of people, including those on federal death row, before the Trump administration takes office in January.
Republican Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in January 2025 after defeating Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential election held on November 5.
He is also considering preemptive pardons for those who investigated Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, as they may face retaliation when he assumes office.
Biden had earlier granted 122 commutations and 21 pardons. He also issued broad pardons for people convicted of using or possessing marijuana on federal lands and in Washington, DC, and pardoned former US service members convicted under an old military ban on consensual gay relationships, which has since been repealed, according to ABC News.
Published By:
Girish Kumar Anshul
Published On:
Dec 12, 2024
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