On Friday, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses, marking the largest single-day clemency action in U.S. history, according to the White House.
“These individuals were serving disproportionately long sentences compared to what they would receive under current laws,” Biden stated, describing the move as a significant step toward addressing sentencing disparities and rectifying historical injustices.
The president emphasized his commitment to criminal justice reform, noting, “With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.” He also signaled the possibility of issuing additional clemency orders before transferring power to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.
Last month, Biden commuted the sentences of 1,500 individuals and issued 39 pardons, including a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who faced legal issues related to gun and tax crimes.
In December, Biden also commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates, sparing all but three individuals: the Boston Marathon bomber, a gunman responsible for the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack, and a white supremacist who killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston in 2015.
The president has reportedly deliberated granting blanket pardons to certain allies and officials amid concerns over potential retributive actions under Trump’s administration. Trump has expressed intentions to resume federal executions, which were paused during Biden’s tenure.
Biden’s record-setting clemency efforts underscore his administration’s focus on addressing systemic inequalities within the justice system, particularly for those impacted by outdated sentencing laws.
