On Friday, January 17, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses, marking what the White House described as the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history.
The individuals whose sentences were commuted had been serving what Biden referred to as “disproportionately long sentences” compared to what they would face under current sentencing laws.
Biden stressed that this action was a crucial step in “righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and giving deserving individuals the chance to reunite with their families.” He also noted, “With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.” Additionally, Biden suggested that further commutations or pardons could be issued before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday.
In December, Biden had commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 others, including his son, Hunter Biden, who was facing potential prison time due to convictions related to gun and tax offenses.
Biden has also been reported to be considering issuing blanket pardons for certain allies and former officials, amidst concerns of “retribution,” as previously alluded to by Trump. As part of his clemency actions, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. The three individuals not included in this decision were the 2013 Boston Marathon bomber, a gunman who killed 11 Jewish worshippers in 2018, and a white supremacist responsible for the 2015 shooting at a Black church.
Trump, who had paused federal executions during his presidency, has signaled an intention to resume them.
