Biden grants unprecedented clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans

President Joe Biden has granted clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans on Thursday, marking the largest single-day use of presidential clemency powers in modern U.S. history.

The sweeping action includes sentence commutations for around 1,500 individuals moved to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with pardons for 39 people convicted of non-violent offenses.

The bulk of the commutations apply to individuals who served at least one year of home confinement under the CARES Act, a 2020 law aimed at reducing COVID-19 transmission in federal prisons. Eligible individuals demonstrated successful rehabilitation through employment and education. The 39 pardoned individuals were recognized for having “turned their lives around,” according to a White House statement.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” President Biden said in a statement. “As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”

The action builds on Biden’s previous clemency efforts, including categorical pardons for individuals convicted of simple marijuana possession and for LGBTQ+ service members penalized for their sexual orientation. Biden pledged to continue reviewing clemency petitions, emphasizing his commitment to addressing sentencing disparities.

However, the announcement was overshadowed by controversy earlier this month when Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for all federal offenses committed or potentially committed from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024. The 54-year-old had recently pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 and was convicted on federal gun charges in Delaware earlier this year.

This clemency wave comes as Biden nears the end of his presidency, a time when leaders often exercise the sweeping pardon powers granted by the U.S. Constitution. Historically, outgoing presidents have used these powers to grant pardons that might have been deemed too politically sensitive earlier in their terms. With President-elect Donald Trump set to assume office soon, Biden’s decision adds a significant chapter to the legacy of presidential clemency in America.