President Joe Biden, during his final days in office, commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 inmates convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
This decision, announced Friday morning, cements Biden’s position as the U.S. president with the most individual pardons and commutations in history.
According to Biden’s statement, the affected individuals were serving disproportionately long sentences due to outdated laws and sentencing enhancements, particularly those involving disparities between crack and powder cocaine convictions.
Biden tied this effort to broader reforms initiated by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018, calling his actions a step toward correcting historic injustices.
“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine,” Biden stated.
He also stressed the importance of giving these individuals the chance to reunite with their families and communities after years of incarceration.
A Record of Controversial Clemency Decisions
This move comes on the heels of other high-profile clemency decisions that have sparked criticism.
In late December, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row, sparing them from execution and sentencing them to life in prison without parole.
The president also faced backlash for granting a blanket pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, absolving him of all federal crimes committed or potentially committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. Hunter Biden had been convicted of gun and tax crimes in separate cases last year.
In addition to these actions, Biden earlier this month claimed the “largest single-day grant of clemency” when he commuted sentences for 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others.
Many of those pardoned were already serving their sentences in home confinement due to decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden has defended his clemency record, stating he is “proud” of the actions he has taken and hinting at the possibility of more clemency decisions before he leaves office on January 20.
“With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history,” Biden declared.
Critics Question Clemency Priorities
Despite his claims of addressing systemic inequities, Biden’s clemency record has faced bipartisan criticism.
Opponents question his prioritization, particularly his decision to pardon family members and political allies. The pardon of Hunter Biden, in particular, has raised eyebrows among critics who view it as a misuse of presidential authority.
Adding to the controversy, Biden declined to consider preemptive pardons for political figures like former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, who led the House January 6 Committee.
Cheney and others involved in investigating former President Donald Trump had been accused by Trump supporters of political bias. However, Biden dismissed the idea of preemptively pardoning himself, stating, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
What’s Next for Clemency?
The Department of Justice reports that, following Friday’s commutations, nearly 6,625 cases remain under review for clemency. Additionally, 1,947 individuals are awaiting pardon eligibility after completing their sentences.