On December 12, 2024, President Joe Biden wielded his executive power in an unprecedented way, implementing the biggest single-day clemency action in recent American history. Biden commuted an estimated 1,500 sentences and pardoned 39 individuals, a move that some have hailed as an act of mercy and redemption. However, the move also follows closely on the heels of his contentious pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
The individuals targeted by Biden’s clemency were non-violent offenders who had been released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act. The White House stated that these individuals had shown “successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer.”
Among the 1,500 beneficiaries of this clemency action are a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters, a church deacon who provided counsel to addicts and young people, and a decorated military veteran.
However, the timing of this announcement has raised eyebrows. Just a few days prior, on December 1, the president had issued an unconditional pardon to his son, wiping clean federal gun and tax charges that had persisted for nearly ten years. This has led some critics to view the mass clemency as a smokescreen, a sentiment echoed in an article by The Hill.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said as he announced this mass clemency. However, these words have been met with skepticism by a nation divided on the concept of justice. Critics have been quick to highlight the irony of granting second chances to many, while seemingly reserving the most extraordinary act of mercy for his own son.
The public’s approval of Biden’s decision to pardon his son is low, as indicated by a poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 22% of Americans approve of this decision, while 51% disapprove. This data underscores the perception of favoritism within the political elite.
Despite the controversy, some have praised Biden’s decision. Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has been pushing for Biden to issue pardons. She called the president’s decision a “meaningful and historic action.”
“Thanks to President Biden, today a near 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever and I congratulate each and every family on this new beginning,” she stated in a public announcement.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has also urged Biden to use his clemency power before the end of his term, “to address miscarriages of justice, just as the founders of this democracy intended.”
In comparison to his predecessors, Biden’s move is unparalleled. Former President Barack Obama, who prioritized criminal justice reform, granted a record 1,715 commutations and 212 pardons over his eight-year term, with his most active single day seeing 330 commutations. President Donald Trump, in his four years in office, granted 143 pardons and 94 commutations, many of which were controversial and seemed to favor political allies and prominent supporters. President George W. Bush issued 189 pardons and 11 commutations over his two terms. Biden’s single-day clemency action remains the largest of its kind, illuminating both his extensive efforts and the contentious political environment in which it took place.
The recent pardon of Hunter Biden, juxtaposed with this clemency initiative, has sparked accusations of hypocrisy and self-serving interests. Critics argue that while the president acted quickly to pardon his son, thousands of nonviolent offenders are still incarcerated, awaiting comparable acts of mercy. This has ignited debates about the fair application of justice and the ethical responsibilities of those in power.
In response to the criticism, the White House has stated that the clemency decisions were made based on individual evaluations of rehabilitation and considerations of public safety. President Biden has suggested that more clemency actions may be on the horizon, reaffirming his commitment to promoting equal justice and meaningful second chances.
Human rights organizations are also urging the President to commute the sentences of inmates on federal death row. Some fear that executions could resume and increase under the incoming Trump administration.
