President Biden announced Friday morning commuting the sentences of approximately 2,500 prisoners as he nears the end of his presidential term.
The sentence reductions are aimed at people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are “serving a disproportionately long sentence” compared to what they would receive if sentenced under today’s law. .
“Today’s clemency action provides relief to individuals who received long sentences under outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes that challenged the distinction between crack and powder cocaine,” Biden said in a statement.
The president said now is the time to “equalize the sentencing disparities” authorized by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018.
Biden announces commuting sentences of 37 federal death row inmates in final month in office
President Biden granted new pardons, commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 prisoners convicted of nonviolent drug crimes in the final days of his presidency. (AP/Ben Curtis)
“This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, closing sentencing disparities, and providing opportunities for deserving individuals to return to their families and communities after spending too much time in prison. Yes,” he continued.
The decision puts Biden thousands ahead of all other presidents who issued clemency orders during their term.
“With this action, I have issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in American history,” Biden said.
Following Friday’s pardon decision, Biden has announced more individual pardons and commutations than any other U.S. president. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Biden sets record for first-term pardon grants, see where other presidents rank here
Granting pardons is not unusual for a president, but Biden has faced bipartisan criticism over who he has decided to pardon or commute the sentences of.
In late December, he chose to commute the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates, avoiding their execution and instead sentencing them to life in prison without parole.
He was also criticized for pardoning his son Hunter for all crimes he “committed or may have committed” against U.S. law between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024. Hunter was convicted last year on gun and tax charges. in two separate federal lawsuits.
President Biden was criticized by both parties for his decision to pardon his son Hunter for all crimes he committed or may have committed over a 10-year period. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Biden also boasted of completing the “largest single-day pardon” on Dec. 12, commuting the sentences of 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others, most of them for the coronavirus pandemic. He was already serving a sentence under home confinement for a decision made below. Era.
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The president added that he was “proud.” [his] “A record of pardons,” he said, adding that he “will continue to consider additional commutations and pardons” as he heads into his final full-day term on Jan. 19.
According to the Department of Justice’s January 13 statistics, 1,947 people are waiting for pardons after completing their sentences, and after Friday’s decision, about 6,625 people are waiting for their sentences to be commuted.
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